毛
máo
hair
surname Mao; feather; down; wool; mildew; mold; coarse or semifinished; young; raw; careless; unthinking; nervous; scared; (of currency) to devalue or depreciate; classifier for Chinese fractional monetary unit ( = 角[jiao3] , = one-tenth of a yuan or 10 fen 分[fen1])
sprouting (乇) + one (一) = hair, feather, or fur
毛 originally depicted strands of hair or fur growing outward. The 乇 element suggests a sprouting or dangling shape, while 一 marks the skin surface from which the strands emerge — though 一 here is structural rather than deeply symbolic.
这件毛衣上有几根猫毛。
zhè jiàn máo yī shàng yǒu jǐ gēn māo máo。
There are a few cat hairs on this sweater.
他买了一个包子，花了五毛钱。
tā mǎi le yí gè bāo zi，huā le wǔ máo qián。
He bought a steamed bun and spent fifty fen.
Words with 毛
毛色
máo sè
(of an animal) appearance or color of coat
毛皮
máo pí
fur
毛茛
máo gèn
buttercup
毫毛
háo máo
fine hair (on the body); down
毛驴
máo lǘ
donkey
毛病
máo bìng
fault
脱毛
tuō máo
to lose hair or feathers
毛利率
máo lì lǜ
gross profit margin; gross margin
飞毛腿
fēi máo tuǐ
swift feet
鼻毛
bí máo
nose hair
长毛
zhǎng máo
to grow hair
毛豆
máo dòu
immature green soy beans, either still in the pod (edamame) or removed from the pod