墨 mò ink
ink; writing; Mexico; ink stick
How to remember 墨: 黑 black + 土 earth = ink. In calligraphy class Grandpa grinds a black stick that smells of earth into water until he has a bowl of shiny ink.
Component breakdown
墨 = 黑 black + 土 earth
- 黑 black
- sooty vent
- 灬 fire
- 土 earth
In calligraphy class Grandpa grinds a black stick that smells of earth into water until he has a bowl of shiny ink.
How it is used
- Ink, especially the traditional ink-stick/ink of calligraphy: 墨水 (mòshuǐ) ink, 笔墨 (bǐmò) pen and ink / writing.
- Figurative learning: 胸无点墨 (xiōngwú-diǎnmò) = utterly unlettered.
- 墨守成规 (mòshǒu-chéngguī) = to stick rigidly to old rules. Also transliterates 墨西哥 (Mòxīgē, Mexico).