Li Mou

Li Mou (李某)

"Li Mou" (李某) is a placeholder name commonly used in mainland China to refer to an anonymous individual, especially in legal contexts, news reports, and official documents. It functions similarly to "John Doe" or "Jane Doe" in Western legal systems.

The surname "Li" (李) is one of the most common surnames in China. The character "Mou" (某) signifies "certain" or "some," but in this context, it represents an unspecified or unnamed person.

The purpose of using "Li Mou" is to protect the privacy of the individual involved, particularly when their identity is irrelevant to the subject matter or when revealing their name could have legal or social repercussions. This practice is particularly common when reporting on criminal cases, investigations, or other sensitive situations where the individual's privacy needs to be protected.

Other placeholder names using common surnames followed by "Mou" are also used (e.g., Zhang Mou, Wang Mou). The choice of surname is often arbitrary. The use of "Li Mou" does not indicate any specific association with the Li family or any individual named Li. It is simply a standardized convention for anonymizing an individual.