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mào

Meaning

flourishing, luxuriant

Five Elements

wood

Gender

Male

Strokes

8

Meaning & Cultural Context

茂 originally depicted lush, thriving vegetation - grass and plants growing abundantly in nature. In classical Chinese literature and the Yijing (I Ching), the character appears in contexts describing natural prosperity and vigorous growth. The grass radical (艹) combined with the cyclical character 戊 creates a visual representation of abundant life force.

Using in Chinese Names

Chinese parents frequently choose 茂 for masculine names to wish their sons a life of flourishing success, abundant blessings, and strong vitality. It conveys deep aspirations for the child to thrive in career, health, and personal growth - essentially a wish for them to 'grow strong like the lush grass.' The character pairs beautifully with characters like 盛 (shèng - prosperity), 林 (lín - forest), or 志 (zhì - ambition).

Personality & Impression

This character suggests someone with natural vitality, strong growth potential, and an ability to flourish in any environment - a person who embodies resilience and abundant energy.

For Foreigners

Pronounce it as 'mao' with a falling tone (mào). The meaning is entirely positive - no negative associations - making it an excellent choice for anyone seeking a Chinese name with strong, auspicious connotations.

Style & Personality

traditional nature strong

Popular Name Combinations

Common two-character names that include 茂:

茂一 mào yī

flourishing, luxuriant, unity, singular, whole

traditional, nature

茂丁 mào dīng

flourishing, luxuriant, strong, vigorous, tiny

traditional, nature

茂临 mào lín

flourishing, luxuriant, arrive, overlook

traditional, nature

茂义 mào yì

flourishing, luxuriant, righteousness, loyalty

traditional, nature

茂伟 mào wěi

flourishing, luxuriant, great, mighty, magnificent

traditional, nature

茂佑 mào yòu

flourishing, luxuriant, bless, protect

traditional, nature

茂克 mào kè

flourishing, luxuriant, overcome, conquer, achieve

traditional, nature

茂刚 mào gāng

flourishing, luxuriant, strong, unyielding

traditional, nature

Build a Chinese Name With 茂

If you like the character 茂 (mào - flourishing, luxuriant), you can use it as the starting point for a personalized Chinese name.

Create My Chinese Name with 茂
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Frequently Asked Questions

茂 originally depicted lush, thriving vegetation - grass and plants growing abundantly in nature. In classical Chinese literature and the Yijing (I Ching), the character appears in contexts describing natural prosperity and vigorous growth. The grass radical (艹) combined with the cyclical character 戊 creates a visual representation of abundant life force.
茂 is pronounced "mào" in Mandarin. The tone is fourth (falling).
Yes, 茂 is commonly used in Chinese names and is suitable for male names. It conveys strong.