冒mào

冒

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

Modern simplified form (簡體). 冒 (mào, "to venture, to risk") has remained unchanged from traditional to simplified, its structure depicting an eye (目) beneath a covering — the original pictograph of a hat or helmet. From this visual sense of "covering" came the extended meanings of daring to step forward and acting recklessly. It appears as a component in 冒險 (adventure), 假冒 (counterfeit), and感冒 (to catch a cold), where the character carries its ancient sense of exposure and risk.

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Shuowen

冒. The oracle bone depicts a strange, hooded shape hovering above an eye, a cap or ritual covering that shields the face. This depiction of a covering over the eye underlies the meanings 'to cover, to risk, to冒 (as in冒犯)'.

Pinyin

mào· HSK 2

冒mào

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin