mǎo

卯

Character · Noun

4th Earthly Branch; mortise; surname

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 6 examples
1.

noun

4th of the Earthly Branches

formal

Used in traditional Chinese sexagenary cycle dating, also corresponds to the hours 5-7 AM.

Mǎo卯
nián年
shì是
shí十
èr二
shēng生
xiào肖
zhōng中
de的
tù兔
nián年
 。

The year of Mao is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

Mǎo卯
shí时
shì是
qīng清
chén晨
wǔ五
diǎn点
dào到
qī七
diǎn点
 。

The hour of Mao is from 5 AM to 7 AM.

Show 1 more example
Gān干
zhī支
jì纪
nián年
zhōng中
 ，
zǐ子
nián年
zhī之
hòu后
shì是
chǒu丑
nián年
 ，
chǒu丑
nián年
zhī之
hòu后
shì是
yín寅
nián年
 ，
yín寅
nián年
zhī之
hòu后
shì是
mǎo卯
nián年
 。

In the sexagenary cycle dating system, the year of Zi is followed by Chou, then Yin, then Mao.

2.

noun

surname Mao

neutral

A rare Chinese family name.

Mǎo卯
xiān先
shēng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
de的
xīn新
tóng同
shì事
 。

Mr. Mao is our new colleague.

3.

noun

mortise (joint)

technical

Refers to the concave hole in woodworking that fits the tenon, also called 榫眼. Used in traditional furniture making.

Zhè这
zhāng张
gǔ古
mù木
zhuō桌
de的
mǎo卯
yǎn眼
pīn拼
jiē接
dé得
shí十
fēn分
jǐn紧
mì密
 。

The mortises of this antique wooden table fit together extremely tightly.

Chuán传
tǒng统
mù木
jiàng匠
bù不
yòng用
dīng钉
zi子
 ，
quán全
kào靠
sǔn榫
mǎo卯
jié结
gù构
gù固
dìng定
jiā家
jù具
 。

Traditional carpenters do not use nails, they fix furniture entirely with mortise and tenon joints.