冒昧 màomèi bold
bold; presumptuous; to take the liberty of
How to remember 冒昧: 冒 risk + 昧 dark = bold.
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How it is used
- A politeness word: 'to take the liberty (of doing something possibly presumptuous)' - 冒昧地问一句 (màomèi de wèn yí jù) 'may I be so bold as to ask'.
- A humble self-deprecating opener when you fear intruding: 恕我冒昧 (shù wǒ màomèi) pardon my presumption. Almost always about oneself, softening a request.