How to Write 冒 (mào) — Meaning “To emit / to risk / to pretend”

Imagine wearing a hat (the top 冂) that is too big and falls over your eyes (目). You have to risk bumping into things or pretend you can see, which helps you recall the meanings "to risk" and "to pretend." The common cold (感冒) can also remind you—when you have a cold, your eyes (目) feel covered and you might risk going out anyway.

The most important rule: the top part in 冒 is NOT 日 (sun) or 曰 (say)—it is a narrow box shape 冂 with two short horizontal strokes inside that do NOT touch the sides. Many learners incorrectly write the top as 日, so remember the inner lines are detached. Also, the bottom 目 should be slightly wider than the top part for proper balance.

冒 (mào) has the eye component 目 below a covered top, meaning "to risk" or "emit." 㒼 (mán) is rare and means "even" or "balanced", with a completely different structure (two 入 above 冂). 冏 (jiǒng) means "bright" or "awkward" and looks like a window with a pattern inside—it has no 目 component and is not related to risk or colds.

The most common use is 感冒 (gǎn mào) meaning "to catch a cold," a daily word for HSK 3 learners. 冒 also appears in 冒险 (mào xiǎn) for "to take a risk" and 冒充 (mào chōng) for "to impersonate." Culturally, 感冒 is so common that Chinese people often ask "你感冒了吗？" (Did you catch a cold?) as a caring question when someone sneezes.

Common words containing 冒 include: 感冒 (gǎn mào) — common cold / to catch a cold; 冒险 (mào xiǎn) — To take a risk / adventure; 冒充 (mào chōng) — To pose as / to feign.