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麦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
麦màisurname Mainr, 7 strokes, radical 麦, rank #2301, Hard
麦màiwheatnr, 7 strokes, radical 麦, rank #2301, Hard
麦màibarleynr, 7 strokes, radical 麦, rank #2301, Hard
麦màioatsnr, 7 strokes, radical 麦, rank #2301, Hard
mài(Mai4) T4
  1. 1wheat
  2. 2barley
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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#2301DifficultyHard
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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 麦

麦Simplified
麥Traditional
7Strokes
麦Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#2301Frequency Rank

Podcast: 麦

JasonAmy

Podcast: 麦

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 麦

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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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Etymology of 麦

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 麥. The top component 來 is a pictograph of wheat. It is unclear why the foot component (夂) was added to the character for "wheat".

Memory Hint

Simplified form of 麦; grains 來 ready to be harvested 夂

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 麦?

Decomposition of 麦

IDS Structure⿱龶夂
麦Full Character
=
龶xx5
top
夂zhi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 麦?

Write 麦

麦

Practice writing 麦 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 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

Complete the Sentence

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.

Common Confusions with 麦

麦vs卖
mài

Pronounced the same, but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "wheat"?

or

Example Sentences for 麦 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
坎贝尔公司的总裁退休后，麦戈文被选定为继任者。

kǎn bèi ěr gōng sī de zǒng cái tuì xiū hòu， ， mài gē wén bèi xuǎn dìng wéi jì rèn。

When the chairman of Campbell's retired, McGovern was named as his successor.
2
“小子，这不关你的事！”麦克洛斯基威胁道。

“ “ xiǎo， zǐ ， zhè bù guān nǐ！” de shì ！” mài kè luò sī jī。

"This ain't no affair of yours, boy!" McClosky said threateningly.
3
我问麦基翁重聚是不是为了寻求解脱。

wǒ wèn mài jī wēng zhòng jù shì bù shì wéi le xún qiú jiě tuō。

I asked McKeown if the reunion was meant to achieve closure.
4
麦克阿瑟将军曾是太平洋战区盟军的最高统帅。

mài kè ā sè jiāng jūn zēng shì tài píng yáng zhàn qū méng jūn de zuì gāo tǒng shuài。

MacArthur was Supreme Commander for the allied powers in the Pacific.
5
麦克慢慢直起身站了起来。

mài kè màn màn zhí qǐ shēn zhàn le qǐ lái。

Mack seemed to uncoil slowly up into a standing position.
6
一架带有丹麦标记的飞机从他的船上空飞过。

yī jià dài yǒu dān mài biāo jì de fēi jī cóng tā de chuán shàng kōng fēi guò。

A plane with Danish markings was over-flying his vessel.
7
麦圭尔举起瓶子咕咚咕咚地喝了一大通苦柠檬汁。

mài guī ěr jǔ qǐ píng zǐ gū dōng gū dōng dì hē le yī dà tōng kǔ níng méng zhī。

McGuire took a long swig from his bottle of bitter lemon.
8
玛丽莲最后一次公开亮相是在麦迪逊广场花园。

mǎ lì lián zuì hòu yī cì gōng kāi liàng xiāng shì zài mài dí xùn guǎng cháng huā yuán。

Marilyn made her last public appearance at Madison Square Garden.
9
“你是个蠢货，麦克。”她叫嚷着。

“ “ nǐ shì gè chǔn， huò ，。” mài kè 。” tā。

"You're a dummy, Mack," she yelled.
10
很多人在查令十字路和丹麦街周围徘徊。

hěn duō rén zài chá líng shí zì lù hé dān mài jiē zhōu wéi pái huái。

Dozens of people milled around Charing Cross Road and Denmark Street.

Cultural Notes for 麦

🏮Cultural insight

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.

🌏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ma4mark
Words Containing This Character20
麦màiwheat麥
麦克Mike (name)麥克
小麦xiǎomàiwheat小麥
麦当劳MacDonald or McDonald (name)麥當勞
丹麦Denmark丹麥
麦克风màikèfēngmicrophone (loanword)麥克風
麦片oatmeal麥片
大麦barley大麥
麦迪Tracy McGrady (1979-), former NBA player麥迪
燕麦oats燕麥
麦迪逊Madison (name)麥迪遜
麦子wheat麥子
麦芽malt麥芽
喀麦隆Cameroon喀麥隆
麦当娜Madonna (1958-), US pop singer麥當娜
荞麦buckwheat蕎麥
麦克阿瑟General 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dwarf lilyturf (Ophiopogon japonicus), its tuber used in TCM麥冬
麦德龙Metro supermarket chain (originally German)麥德龍
麦凯恩McCain (name)麥凱恩
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 唛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 麦

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.