HSK 3.0 · LEVEL 5
按摩
Massage; to rub or press with the hands.
Free Chinese vocabulary flashcard · HSK 5
Why does 按摩 look like this?
Both characters feature the 'Hand' radical (扌). '按' (àn) combines hand + 'peace' (安), suggesting pressing down to settle something. '摩' (mó) combines the 'Hemp' phonetic (麻) over 'Hand' (手), suggesting the repetitive motion of rubbing or polishing. Together, they represent hands at work!