How to Write 睦 (mù) — Meaning “Harmonious.”

Think of the right side as "eight people on earth" and the left as an eye watching them — everything is calm and friendly.

Write the left radical 目 first, making it slightly narrow — use 5 strokes. Then the right side: draw the 八 (two strokes: left-falling and right-falling) above the 土 (three strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal). A common mistake is making the 八 too wide or misplacing it above the 土. Keep the whole character balanced.

睦 has a right side of 八 on top of 土 (like a small mound), and means "harmonious." 眦 (zì) has the right side 此 (meaning "this") and refers to the corner of the eye or staring angrily. 眭 (suī/guì) has the right side 圭 (two pieces of jade) and means "to look" or is a surname. Focus on the different right components.

睦 appears in formal or written contexts, especially in phrases like 和睦 (hé mù, harmonious) for families or communities, and 睦邻 (mù lín, good-neighborliness) for international relations. It is not common in daily conversation but appears in slogans, essays, and diplomatic language. The character carries a positive cultural value of peace and unity.

Common words containing 睦 include: 和睦 (hé mù) — harmonious; amicable; 邻里和睦 (lín lǐ hé mù) — neighborhood harmony; 睦邻 (mù lín) — Good-neighborliness..