磨 Stroke Order — How to Write 磨
磨 is written in 16 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 石, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
磨 Radical and Character Components
磨 is a phono-semantic compound: 石 (stone) carries the meaning, while 麻 indicates the sound.
Radical: 石 + 11 more strokes
磨 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- mó
- mò
Meanings of 磨 in Chinese
1
mó磨
To rub, grind, or polish; to sharpen; to train or temper through hardship; to break in (e.g., new machinery).
爷爷正在磨刀，准备下午去修剪花园里的灌木。
Grandpa is sharpening his knife, preparing to prune the bushes in the garden this afternoon.
Obstacle; difficulty; hardship; to suffer.
在实现梦想的道路上，我们总会遇到各种磨难。
On the path to realizing our dreams, we will always encounter various hardships.
To consume, wear down, or obliterate, as in 'wear and tear' or 'erode'.
这双鞋穿久了，鞋底已经磨损得很厉害。
These shoes have been worn for a long time, and the soles are severely worn out.
to delay; to procrastinate; to spend a lot of time or effort on something
他总是喜欢磨磨蹭蹭，不肯立刻开始工作。
He always likes to procrastinate and is unwilling to start working immediately.
2
mò磨
A tool or place for grinding grain: stone mill, electric mill, millstone, mill, to grind.
这个老磨坊里还保留着一个巨大的石磨，以前人们用它来磨谷物。
This old mill still preserves a huge stone mill, which people used to grind grains.
To grind or mill grains (like flour, rice) or other food items (like soybeans for tofu).
她喜欢自己在家磨豆腐。
She likes to make her own tofu at home.
To turn around or pivot a vehicle (or similar large object) in a confined space, often implying difficulty.
院子太小，大货车磨不过身来
The yard is too small, the big truck can't turn around.
Common Words and Phrases with 磨
1
To feel too embarrassed or awkward to refuse or act, often due to social considerations.
同事请我帮个小忙，即使我那天很忙，也磨不开拒绝他。
A colleague asked me for a small favor, and even though I was very busy that day, I felt too awkward to refuse him.
2
To rub against each other; friction; conflict or clash.
长时间的磨擦导致皮肤发红。
Prolonged rubbing caused the skin to redden.
3
To dawdle, move slowly, or procrastinate.
你别再磨蹭了，快点把作业写完。
Don't procrastinate anymore; finish your homework quickly.
4
To achieve success through persistent effort and diligence, like grinding an iron pestle into a needle.
学习是一场马拉松，只要有磨杵成针的毅力，就没有克服不了的困难
Learning is a marathon; as long as one possesses the perseverance to grind an iron pestle into a needle, no difficulty will be insurmountable.
5
To study diligently and persistently for a long time; to remain unswerving in one's resolve, like grinding through an iron inkstone.
老教授一生致力于学术研究，磨穿铁砚，终于在耄耋之年取得了突破性成果。
The old professor dedicated his entire life to academic research, embodying the spirit of 'grinding through an iron inkstone' with unwavering diligence, finally achieving groundbreaking results in his eighties.
6
To not feel embarrassed or awkward in a social situation; to have the nerve to do something.
他磨得开面子，向老板提出了加薪的请求
He had the nerve to ask his boss for a raise.
7
Literally, to grind beans for tofu; figuratively, to repeat oneself incessantly.
这件事情我们已经讨论很多遍了，你别再磨豆腐了，赶快做决定吧
We've discussed this matter many times already, don't keep repeating yourself; make a decision quickly.
8
To bother or pester someone constantly, often to ask for something; alternatively, to hesitate or delay in action.
你别老磨烦我了，我今天真的没有时间帮你。
Please stop pestering me; I really don't have time to help you today.
9
A mill; a building or factory equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour.
村子边缘有一座古老的磨坊，磨坊用河水驱动石磨研磨谷物。
At the edge of the village, there is an ancient mill that uses river water to power the millstones for grinding grain.
10
11
Wear and tear; abrasion; attrition.
长时间使用会导致轮胎磨耗，需要定期检查更换。
Prolonged use can lead to tire wear, necessitating regular inspection and replacement.
12
The process of breaking in or running in new machinery to ensure its components function smoothly together.
新车购买后，需要一段时间的磨合，才能达到最佳的驾驶状态。
After purchasing a new car, it requires a period of break-in to reach its optimal driving condition.
13
A mill is a machine that manufactures by continuously repeating a simple action.
这家工厂生产的磨机可以高效地将谷物磨成面粉。
The grinding mills produced by this factory can efficiently grind grains into flour.
14
to sharpen; to make something keen or sharp.
他每天都会磨快他的园艺工具，以确保它们保持锋利。
He sharpens his gardening tools every day to ensure they remain keen.
15
to sharpen by grinding; to temper or hone oneself through training or hardship.
多年的实践和学习，磨砺了他解决复杂问题的能力
Years of practice and study have honed his ability to solve complex problems.
16
to temper or steel oneself through challenging experiences; to harden through hardship
运动员通过艰苦的训练磨练自己的技艺和体能。
Athletes temper their skills and physical abilities through rigorous training.
More words with 磨
- yán研mó磨Grinding, Abrasion
- háng珩mó磨honing
- niǎn碾mó磨Grind, Mill
- zuó琢mó磨Ponder, Deliberate
- róu揉mó磨polish, rub down
- tuō拖mó磨To dawdle; to waste time.
- yū迂mó磨procrastinate, dawdle
- mó磨sǔn损wear, abrasion
- xián闲mó磨yá牙Gossip, Idle chatter
- dǎ打mó磨polish, grind
- zhé折mó磨Torment, Torture
- mó磨dāo刀sharpen a knife, whet a knife
- mó磨lì利sharpen, hone
- mó磨miàn面grind flour, mill flour
- mó磨nàn难Hardship, Adversity
- mò磨pán盘millstone, grinding stone
- mó磨píng平smooth out, grind flat
- mó磨pò破wear out, chafe
- mó磨suì碎grind, grate
- shí石mò磨millstone, stone mill
Idioms with 磨
- mó磨dāo刀cā擦qiāng枪prepare for battle
- mó磨dāo刀huò霍huò霍sharpening a blade for impending action
- mó磨mó磨cèng蹭cèng蹭to procrastinate and dawdle
- mó磨pò破kǒu口shé舌talk oneself hoarse
- mó磨quán拳cā擦zhǎng掌eager for a fight or action
- mó磨zuǐ嘴pí皮zi子talk idly or unnecessarily
- bái白mó磨zuǐ嘴pí皮talk in vain
- bǎi百bān般zhé折mó磨subject to all kinds of torment
- bù不kě可mó磨miè灭cannot be erased or forgotten
- cā擦quán拳mó磨zhǎng掌eager to fight or act
- ěr耳bìn鬓sī厮mó磨intimate proximity
- hǎo好shì事duō多mó磨Good things meet with many twists and turns
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Open the tool →Questions about 磨
What does 磨 mean in Chinese?
磨 (mó) means “To rub, grind, or polish” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 磨?
磨 has 2 pronunciations: mó, mò.
How many strokes does 磨 have?
磨 has 16 strokes.
How do you write 磨?
磨 is written in 16 strokes, starting from the radical 石. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 磨?
The radical of 磨 is 石, and 磨 is a phono-semantic compound.
