How to Write 耱 (mò) — Meaning “to harrow; a stone roller”

Picture a farmer (radical 耒) pushing a heavy stone roller (磨) across a field to break up soil. Imagine the stone roller grinding the earth smooth, and remember that 耱 sounds like "mow" — think of mowing the field with a roller. This visual links the plow radical and the grind component to the harrowing action.

Start with the left side 耒 (7 strokes: horizontal, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, left-falling, right-falling, vertical hook), then write the right side 磨 (15 strokes: dot, left-falling, horizontal, vertical, left-falling, dot, left-falling, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, left-falling, horizontal, vertical, horizontal fold, horizontal). Common mistakes include making the left side too wide or forgetting the dot on top of 磨. Keep the left part narrow and the right part balanced.

Common phrases include 耱地 (mò dì) meaning "to harrow the field," 耱平 (mò píng) meaning "to level the ground with a harrow," and 耱田 (mò tián) also meaning "to harrow the field." Farmers use these phrases when describing the step after plowing, where a harrow breaks up clods and smooths the soil for planting.

Today, 耱 is mainly used in agricultural contexts, especially in rural areas where traditional farming tools are still used. It appears in farming manuals, regional literature, or conversations about field preparation. Cultural notes: The stone harrow is a historic tool, so the character carries a sense of traditional farming life, though it is rarely taught in standard HSK.

Common words containing 耱 include: 耱地 (mò dì) — to harrow the field; 耱平 (mò píng) — to level the ground with a harrow; 耱田 (mò tián) — to harrow the field.