摩天

mótiān

adjective

Meanings

HSK 4

上海有好几座摩天高楼。

Shànghǎi yǒu hǎojǐ zuò mótiān gāolóu.

Shanghai has several towering skyscrapers.

HSK 7-9

两岸峭壁摩天，江水从中间奔流而过。

Liǎng'àn qiàobì mótiān, jiāngshuǐ cóng zhōngjiān bēnliú ér guò.

Cliffs tower into the sky on both banks, and the river rushes through between them.

memory

摩 is 'to rub, to touch', as in 摩擦 'friction': a building so tall it rubs the sky, the same picture as English 'skyscraper'.

usage

Mostly before a noun: 摩天大楼 'skyscraper', 摩天轮 'Ferris wheel'.

摩 mó

天 tiān