Definition
毛 (máo) refers to hair, fur, or feathers on animals, as well as human body hair (but not head hair). For hair on the head, use 头发 (tóu fa). 毛 also means mildew/mold on food, and is a unit of currency (one-tenth of a yuan).
noun
hairfurfeatherswoolmildewmold
classifier
for a fractional monetary unit = one-tenth of a yuan (一角)
Easily confused
- 甩shuǎilook-aliketo fling, swing, or throw with a whipping motion
- 猫māosound-alikecat
- 冒màosound-aliketo emit, to give off (smoke, steam, bubbles, sweat, etc.)
Examples
- 毛。Zhè zhī māo de máo hěn ruǎn.This cat's fur is very soft.
- 毛。Miànbāo shàng zhǎng le máo.The bread has grown mold.
- 毛。Zhè zhī bǐ huā le wǔ máo qián.This pen cost five mao (fifty fen).
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