摸(mō) - to touch, to feel, to stroke, to grope for in Mandarin

摸 (mō) is touching with intent: running a hand over something, stroking a pet, or feeling around for an object you cannot see. It implies contact that lasts a moment, unlike 碰 (pèng), which is a quick knock or bump and often accidental.

The doubled form 摸了摸 is extremely common and worth copying. Reduplicating the verb softens it into a brief, casual action: 摸了摸头 is gave his head a quick rub, not conducted an examination of his skull. The same trick works for 看了看, 想了想, 试了试.

The resultative 摸到 means found by feeling, which is how you say you located something in the dark or in a bag. One caution: like touch in English, 摸 can be improper when the object is a person, so keep it for hands, heads, animals and things unless you know the register you are in.