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犸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
mammothx, 6 strokes, radical 犭, Very Hard
mammothx, 6 strokes, radical 犭, Very Hard
(ma4)
primary
T4
  1. 1mammoth
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(獁)(ma4)

The character 犸 (mà) refers specifically to the mammoth, an extinct species of large, woolly elephant-like creatures that roamed the Earth during the Ice Age. In modern usage, it may appear in discussions about paleontology, fossil discoveries, or in cultural references related to ancient animals.

Strokes6RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The mammoth holds a significant place in Chinese culture, often symbolizing ancient life and the mysteries of evolution. It is sometimes referenced in art and literature that explores themes of extinction and survival.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gigantic mammoth with massive tusks and a thick coat of fur. The character 犸 looks like a mammoth standing proudly, with the radical 犭 (dog/animal) suggesting its animal nature. The 'm' sound in 'mammoth' helps you remember the pronunciation 'mà'.

Meanings of 犸

(ma4)
primary
1mammoth
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 犸

Simplified
Traditional
6Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 犸

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 犸

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a gigantic mammoth with massive tusks and a thick coat of fur. The character 犸 looks like a mammoth standing proudly, with the radical 犭 (dog/animal) suggesting its animal nature. The 'm' sound in 'mammoth' helps you remember the pronunciation 'mà'.

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and might appear in academic or specialized contexts. It's important to pronounce it correctly with the falling tone (4th tone) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Though 犸 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it may be beneficial for students studying higher-level vocabulary or those interested in specialized fields like biology or history. Students should focus on the context of its usage in paleontology-related discussions.

Cultural Note

The mammoth holds a significant place in Chinese culture, often symbolizing ancient life and the mysteries of evolution. It is sometimes referenced in art and literature that explores themes of extinction and survival.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly pronounce 犸 with a rising tone, confusing it with other words. The correct pronunciation is with a falling tone (mà). Additionally, some may confuse it with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 犸

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Etymology of 犸

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 马 represents the sound. Simplified form of 獁.

Memory Hint

animal

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 犸?

Decomposition of 犸

IDS Structure⿰犭马
Full Character
=
quan3
left
Ma3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 犸?

Write 犸

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 犸

犸 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

尼安德特人能够捕杀浑身覆毛的猛____象和熊。

Neanderthal man was able to kill woolly mammoths and bears.

Example Sentences for 犸 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
尼安德特人能够捕杀浑身覆毛的猛犸象和熊。

ní ān dé tè rén néng gòu bǔ shā hún shēn fù máo de měng mǎ xiàng hé xióng。

Neanderthal man was able to kill woolly mammoths and bears.

Cultural Notes for 犸

🏮Cultural insight

The mammoth holds a significant place in Chinese culture, often symbolizing ancient life and the mysteries of evolution. It is sometimes referenced in art and literature that explores themes of extinction and survival.

Word Family of 犸

Words Containing This Character2
猛犸mammoth猛獁
mammoth
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 猛犸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 犸

It means 'mammoth,' referring to the extinct large mammals that resembled elephants.