How to Write 寞 (mò) — Meaning “Lonely; solitary.”

Picture a house (宀) where the sun (日, part of 莫) has gone away, leaving only grass (艹, also part of 莫) outside. This empty scene makes you feel 寞 (lonely). The key is linking 'house' and 'absence' to loneliness.

Write the roof (宀) first with three strokes, then the 莫 below: start with the grass top (艹, four strokes), then the sun (日, four strokes), and finally the big bottom (大, three strokes). Common mistakes include forgetting the horizontal stroke in 日 or making the roof too narrow.

The character 宿 means 'to stay overnight' and focuses on lodging, while 寂 means 'quiet' or 'still' and emphasizes silence. In contrast, 寞 (especially in 寂寞) specifically describes emotional loneliness or a feeling of being alone and desolate.

寞 appears most often in the common word 寂寞 (jì mò), meaning 'lonely' or 'lonesome.' It is used in everyday conversation and literature to express a sad feeling of isolation. In Chinese culture, 寂寞 is often linked to poetry about autumn nights or being far from home.

Common words containing 寞 include: 寂寞 (jì mò) — lonely; 孤寞 (gū mò) — lonely and silent; 落寞 (luò mò) — lonely; desolate; forlorn.