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noun #2,092

Meanings

  1. 1 mould; matrix; die; pattern (physical)
  2. 2 appearance; look (in 模样, 模子)

Examples

Liǎng jiěmèi zhǎng de yīmúyīyàng.
The two sisters look exactly alike.
Gōngchǎng yòng gāng mújù zuò língjiàn.
The factory uses steel moulds to make parts.
Xīnchē shì shénme múyàng de?
What does the new car look like?

Tips

usage
The mú reading is the concrete-object reading — a physical mould you pour into, or by extension the 'look / cast' of someone or something. Memorise this short list and you've covered the whole reading: 模样 (look, appearance), 模子 (mould), 模板 (template, formwork), 模具 (die / mould), 倒模 (to cast). Plus the 'one-and-the-same' idioms 一模一样, 大模大样, 装模作样, 像模像样 — these all use mú because here is 'mould / cast' (looking like X is cast from the same mould as X), not 'pattern / model' in the abstract sense.
mistakes
Quick test: 模型 (model, mathematical or miniature) vs 模具 (factory mould) — both translate as 'model / mould' in English, but the abstract / mathematical reading is mó, the physical-shop-floor reading is mú. Taiwan often levels both to mó; in mainland Mandarin keep them apart.

Components

radical
tree; wood
Left radical grounds in carpentry: a 'mould' or 'pattern' was originally a wooden form used to cast bronze or shape clay. The wood radical groups with other shaping/building chars like (board), (frame), (sample) — all wooden templates from which copies are made.
phonetic
do not; sunset
Right phonetic supplies the sound — mò shifted to mó with familiar back-vowel rounding. The same phonetic series gives (touch), (steamed bun), (membrane), (desert) — once you recognise , the whole rhyme group falls into place.

Stroke Order