Usage of the character 摸

blind people touch an elephant (idiom, from Nirvana sutra 大般涅槃經／大般涅盘经 (dàbān Nièpánjīng)); fig. unable to see the big picture
to mistake the part for the whole
unable to see the wood for the trees

héyǎnmōxiàng

合眼摸象

[合眼摸象]

to touch an elephant with closed eyes (idiom); to proceed blindly

chùmōpíngmù

触摸屏幕

[觸摸屏幕]

touchscreen

tōutōumōmō

偷偷摸摸

[偷偷摸摸]

surreptitious; sneaky

tōujīmōgǒu

偷鸡摸狗

[偷雞摸狗]

to imitate the dog and steal chicken (idiom)
to pilfer
to dally with women
to have affairs

húnshuǐmōyú

混水摸鱼

[混水摸魚]

to fish in troubled water (idiom); to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain
also written 渾水摸魚／浑水摸鱼

húnshuǐmōyú

浑水摸鱼

[渾水摸魚]

to fish in troubled water (idiom); to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain

zhòngmángmōxiàng

众盲摸象

[眾盲摸象]

multitude of blind people touch an elephant (idiom, from Nirvana sutra 大般涅槃經／大般涅盘经 (dàbān Nièpánjīng)); fig. unable to see the big picture
to mistake the part for the whole
unable to see the wood for the trees

qǐzǎomōhēi

起早摸黑

[起早摸黑]

see 起早貪黑／起早贪黑 (qǐzǎotānhēi)

mōpágǔndǎ

摸爬滚打

[摸爬滾打]

to go through challenging experiences
to become seasoned (in one's profession etc)

mōbuzháobiān

摸不着边

[摸不著邊]

can't make head or tail of

shùnténgmōguā

顺藤摸瓜

[順藤摸瓜]

lit. to follow the vine to get to the melon
to track sth following clues

zhuōmōbùdìng

捉摸不定

[捉摸不定]

unpredictable; elusive; hard to pin down

nányǐzhuōmō

难以捉摸

[難以捉摸]

elusive
hard to pin down
enigmatic

guǐmōnǎoké

鬼摸脑壳

[鬼摸腦殼]

(idiom) muddled; momentarily confused

mángrénmōxiàng

盲人摸象

[盲人摸象]

blind people touch an elephant (idiom, from Nirvana sutra 大般涅槃經／大般涅盘经 (dàbān Nièpánjīng)); fig. unable to see the big picture
to mistake the part for the whole
unable to see the wood for the trees

mōshítouguòhé

摸石头过河

[摸石頭過河]