How to Write 谋 (móu) — Meaning “to plan or seek”

Imagine you are a spy who says (讠) "I will find a certain (某) way to achieve my goal." The left side 讠 reminds you of speaking or plotting, and the right side 某 looks like a target you are seeking, helping you link the character to the meaning 'to plan or seek'.

Write the radical 讠 first with a short horizontal stroke and a vertical hook. Then write the right part 某 carefully: start with the top horizontal, then 甘 (gān, sweet) with a central horizontal stroke, and finish with the bottom 木 (mù, tree) — make sure the horizontal stroke in 木 is not too long and the left and right strokes are balanced.

谋 (móu) means 'to plan or seek,' while 诫 (jiè) means 'to warn or admonish' and 诬 (wū) means 'to falsely accuse.' Visually, 谋 has 某 on the right, 诫 has 戒 (jiè, to guard), and 诬 has 巫 (wū, witch) — the different right-side components change both pronunciation and meaning.

谋 is common in formal or strategic contexts, such as 谋求 (móu qiú, to strive for) in business or politics, and 计谋 (jì móu, scheme) in military or competitive situations. The idiom 出谋划策 (chū móu huà cè, to give advice) is used when someone offers a plan or strategy, reflecting the valued trait of careful planning in Chinese culture.

Common words containing 谋 include: 谋求 (móu qiú) — to strive for or seek; 计谋 (jì móu) — scheme; strategy; plot; 出谋划策 (chū móu huà cè) — to give advice.