Common Meanings
1
mào冒
To emerge or rise outwards, like smoke or steam.
炉子里冒出了白色的烟。
White smoke rose from the stove.
To brave; to face or disregard adverse conditions or danger.
我们冒着大雨赶到了集合地点。
We braved the heavy rain and arrived at the meeting point.
To act recklessly, rashly, or presumptuously; to rush forward without due consideration.
请原谅我的冒昧，可以问您一个问题吗？
Please forgive my presumption, may I ask you a question?
To pretend or to pass off as genuine; to impersonate.
这个人冒充医生，骗了很多钱。
This person impersonated a doctor and swindled a lot of money.
To cover or envelop something, often with a layer or film.
一层薄雾冒住了远处的山峦。
A thin layer of fog covered the distant mountains.
To embezzle or misappropriate funds or goods, implying illicit gain or corruption, often through taking advantage of one's position.
他竟然冒领了客户的款项，真是太不应该了。
He actually embezzled the client's payment; that's truly unacceptable.
An archaic or less common variant of '帽' (mào), meaning hat or cap.
他戴着一顶草冒，在田里劳动。
He was wearing a straw hat, working in the field.
When pronounced mào, '冒' is synonymous with '瑁', referring to the shell of a hawksbill turtle, often used for making ornaments or crafts.
这种工艺品上镶嵌着精美的冒，闪耀着独特的光泽。
This handicraft is inlaid with exquisite 'mao' (hawksbill turtle shell), sparkling with a unique luster.
2
mò冒
Used in the proper noun 'Mòdú' (冒顿), referring to a prominent chieftain of the Xiongnu during the early Han Dynasty in China.
冒顿单于是一位杰出的匈奴首领。
Modu Chanyu was an outstanding Xiongnu leader.