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March 24, 2026
麦(麥)mài(Mai4)
麦 (mài) primarily refers to grains, particularly wheat and other cereal grains like barley and oats. In contexts related to agriculture or cooking, it signifies these staple foods, while as a surname, it is a common family name in China.
Strokes7Radical麦Frequency#2301DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
Wheat is a staple food in many regions of China, particularly in the north, where it plays a significant role in the local diet, including dishes like noodles and dumplings. The character 麦 reflects this deep agricultural heritage.
Memory tip
Imagine a field of golden wheat swaying in the breeze, representing 麦 (mài). The character 麦 looks like a plant with two 'leaves' at the top, hinting at its agricultural meaning, while the pronunciation 'mài' can be remembered by associating it with 'mighty' grains that feed the world.
Meanings of 麦
mài(Mai4)
1wheat
2barley
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 麦
麦Simplified
麥Traditional
7Strokes
麦Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#2301Frequency Rank
Podcast: 麦
Podcast: 麦
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AI study notes for 麦
Usage Notes
When using 麦, ensure you understand the context—it's often used in agricultural discussions or food-related topics. Common collocations include 麦片 (màipiàn, oatmeal) and 小麦 (xiǎomài, wheat). Avoid mixing it up with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 麦 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it relates to HSK Level 3 vocabulary concerning food and daily life. Students should focus on its usage in cooking and agricultural contexts to expand their vocabulary related to nutrition and farming.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 麦 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 买 (mǎi, to buy). An incorrect example is saying '我买麦' (I buy wheat) instead of '我吃麦' (I eat wheat) when discussing consumption.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 麦
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麦 (mài) primarily refers to grains, particularly wheat and other cereal grains like barley and oats. In contexts related to agriculture or cooking, it signifies these staple foods, while as a surname, it is a common family name in China.
When to use 麦
When using 麦, ensure you understand the context—it's often used in agricultural discussions or food-related topics. Common collocations include 麦片 (màipiàn, oatmeal) and 小麦 (xiǎomài, wheat). Avoid mixing it up with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 麦 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 买 (mǎi, to buy). An incorrect example is saying '我买麦' (I buy wheat) instead of '我吃麦' (I eat wheat) when discussing consumption.
Write 麦
麦
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Grammar patterns of 麦
麦 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). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
坎贝尔公司的总裁退休后，____戈文被选定为继任者。
When the chairman of Campbell's retired, McGovern was named as his successor.
Dozens of people milled around Charing Cross Road and Denmark Street.
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Cultural Notes for 麦
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In contrast to Western cultures that may primarily associate wheat with bread, in China, wheat is often processed into noodles and dumplings, highlighting different culinary traditions.
Word Family of 麦
Compounds1
唛màmark
Words containing this character20
麦màiwheat麥
麦克màikèMike (name)麥克
小麦xiǎomàiwheat小麥
麦当劳màidāngláoMacDonald or McDonald (name)麥當勞
丹麦dānmàiDenmark丹麥
麦克风màikèfēngmicrophone (loanword)麥克風
麦片màipiànoatmeal麥片
大麦dàmàibarley大麥
麦迪màidíTracy McGrady (1979-), former NBA player麥迪
燕麦yànmàioats燕麥
麦迪逊màidíxùnMadison (name)麥迪遜
麦子màiziwheat麥子
麦芽màiyámalt麥芽
喀麦隆kāmàilóngCameroon喀麥隆
麦当娜màidāngnàMadonna (1958-), US pop singer麥當娜
荞麦qiáomàibuckwheat蕎麥
麦克阿瑟màikè’āsèGeneral Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), US commander in Pacific during WW2, sacked in 1951 by President Truman for exceeding orders during the Korean war麥克阿瑟
麦冬màidōngdwarf lilyturf (Ophiopogon japonicus), its tuber used in TCM麥冬
Yes, 麦 (mài) is a recognized surname in China, though it is less common than some other surnames. Surnames in Chinese culture often have historical significance and can be associated with certain regions or clans.
Common phrases that include 麦 (mài) are '麦子' (màizi), meaning 'wheat,' and '麦片' (màipiàn), meaning 'oatmeal' or 'flakes.' These terms are often used in discussions about food and farming.
You can use 麦 (mài) in a sentence to refer to grains, such as '我喜欢吃麦片' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī mài piàn), which means 'I like to eat oatmeal.' It can also be used in phrases related to agriculture or cooking.
麦 (mài) refers to various types of cereal grains, including wheat, barley, and oats. It can also be used as a surname in Chinese culture. When discussing food or agriculture, 麦 is often associated with these staple crops.
In culinary contexts, 麦 refers to grains like wheat, which are used to make various staple foods such as noodles and dumplings.
Yes, 麦 is also a common Chinese surname, pronounced the same way.
You can use 麦 in sentences related to food, such as '我喜欢吃麦片' (I like to eat oatmeal).
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