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March 24, 2026
玛(瑪)mǎ(ma3)
The character 玛 (mǎ) refers to a type of precious stone, specifically agate or cornelian. It is often used in the context of jewelry and decorative arts, signifying beauty and value. This character can also be found in names and titles that evoke elegance or preciousness.
Strokes7Radical王Frequency#4611DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, gemstones like 玛 represent not just beauty, but also protection and good fortune. They are often used in traditional jewelry worn during festivals and important life events.
Memory Tip
Think of 玛 (mǎ) as a 'marvelous gem.' The left side of the character resembles a mountain, suggesting the natural origins of gemstones. Imagine a beautiful agate stone sitting atop a mountain, sparkling in the sunlight, to remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 玛
mǎ(ma3)
1agate, cornelian
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 玛
玛Simplified
瑪Traditional
7Strokes
王Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 玛
Podcast: 玛
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AI Study Notes for 玛
Usage Notes
玛 is commonly used in crafts, jewelry, and discussions about gemstones. Avoid confusing it with other similar characters, such as 码 (mǎ), which means 'code.' In formal contexts, it may be used in names of products or brands that emphasize luxury.
HSK Study Tips
Although 玛 is not included in the HSK levels, it complements other words related to stones and jewelry, such as 石 (shí) for 'stone' and 珠 (zhū) for 'pearl.' Students should focus on recognizing this character in context, especially in discussions of art and culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 玛 (mǎ) with 码 (mǎ), which means 'code.' Remember that 玛 specifically relates to gemstones, whereas 码 is about numerical codes or measures.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 玛
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Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 马 represents the sound. Simplified form of 瑪.
1The meaning half王 carries the sense.
2The sound half马 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayjade
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 玛? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 玛?
Decomposition of 玛
IDS Structure⿰王马
玛Full Character
=
王Wang2
left
马Ma3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 玛?
How to say agate, cornelian in Chinese
“agate, cornelian” in Chinese is玛mǎ
The character 玛 (mǎ) refers to a type of precious stone, specifically agate or cornelian. It is often used in the context of jewelry and decorative arts, signifying beauty and value. This character can also be found in names and titles that evoke elegance or preciousness.
When to use 玛
玛 is commonly used in crafts, jewelry, and discussions about gemstones. Avoid confusing it with other similar characters, such as 码 (mǎ), which means 'code.' In formal contexts, it may be used in names of products or brands that emphasize luxury.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 玛 (mǎ) with 码 (mǎ), which means 'code.' Remember that 玛 specifically relates to gemstones, whereas 码 is about numerical codes or measures.
Write 玛
玛
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Practice writing 玛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 玛
玛 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
“给我来份烤金枪鱼吧，”____丽·安告诉侍者。
"I'll take the grilled tuna," Mary Ann told the waiter.
