How to Write 侔 (móu) — Meaning “equal; similar”

Imagine two persons standing side by side at the same height. The 亻 on the left is one person, and the 牟 on the right looks like a person with arms stretched out measuring to make sure they are equal. You can also remember that 侔 sounds like 'mow' — when you mow grass, you make it even and level, which is like being equal.

The left radical 亻 should be written narrow, with a short vertical stroke. The right part 牟 has six strokes; its top is like a small "厶" and the bottom is a horizontal stroke. A common mistake is making the right side too wide or forgetting that the second horizontal stroke of 牟 is slightly shorter than the bottom one.

Although all three use the 亻 radical, their meanings and right sides differ. 仰 (yǎng) means 'look up' or 'admire' and has 卬, while 仲 (zhòng) means 'middle' or 'second brother' and has 中. 侔 (móu) specifically means 'equal' or 'comparable', and its right component 牟 is unique to this character.

侔 is a literary or classical word, not common in everyday conversation. It appears in formal writing, idioms, or technical phrases such as 相侔 (xiāng móu, 'comparable') and 侔色 (móu sè, 'to match colors'). You might encounter it in classical texts or descriptions of things being on the same level.

Common words containing 侔 include: 相侔 (xiāng móu) — equal / comparable; 齐侔 (qí móu) — Equal; comparable; 侔色 (móu sè) — similar in color; to match colors.