幕 mù curtain
curtain; screen; tent; act
How to remember 幕: 莫 cannot + 巾 towel = curtain. The little actor fears he cannot go on, wraps himself in a towel backstage and peeks out from behind the curtain.
Component breakdown
幕 = 莫 cannot + 巾 towel
- 莫 cannot
- 巾 towel
The little actor fears he cannot go on, wraps himself in a towel backstage and peeks out from behind the curtain.
How it is used
- 幕 is curtain/screen, and doubles as a measure word for the acts of a play: 第一幕 (dì-yī mù) Act One.
- 字幕 (zìmù) "subtitles" is one of its most common compounds - 打开字幕 (dǎkāi zìmù) turn on subtitles.
- 开幕 (kāimù) and 闭幕 (bìmù) - literally "curtain opens/closes" - are the standard verbs for a ceremony or exhibition opening and closing, e.g. 开幕式 (kāimùshì) opening ceremony.
- 幕后 (mùhòu) "behind the curtain" means behind-the-scenes, as in 幕后工作人员 (mùhòu gōngzuò rényuán) backstage staff.