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March 24, 2026
麻(蔴)má(ma2)
The character 麻 (má) primarily refers to hemp and its fibers, which are used in textiles. It can also denote sensations of numbness or tingling, often described as feeling 'pins and needles.' This word is frequently used in contexts related to fabrics, cooking (sesame), and sensory experiences.
Strokes11Radical麻Frequency#5324DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, sesame seeds (which are also referred to as 麻) are commonly used in traditional dishes, particularly in sauces and desserts, highlighting its significance in both culinary practices and cultural symbolism.
Memory Tip
Imagine a rough, coarse piece of hemp fabric (麻) that feels prickly against your skin, creating a tingling sensation. The sound 'má' can be linked to 'ma' in 'mama,' who might use hemp to make a woven bag, connecting the character's form to its meaning.
Meanings of 麻
má(ma2)
1hemp
2generic name for hemp, flax etc
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 麻
麻Simplified
蔴Traditional
11Strokes
麻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5324Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 麻
Podcast: 麻
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AI Study Notes for 麻
Quick Contrast
麻 (má) vs 纱 (shā) — use 麻 when referring to hemp or sensations of numbness, while 纱 specifically refers to gauze or thin fabric.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a rough, coarse piece of hemp fabric (麻) that feels prickly against your skin, creating a tingling sensation. The sound 'má' can be linked to 'ma' in 'mama,' who might use hemp to make a woven bag, connecting the character's form to its meaning.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 麻 (má) with other similar-sounding characters. This word is generally neutral in tone, but in formal contexts, it is often used to discuss textiles or medical symptoms. Be careful with the pronunciation; a wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 麻 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to other HSK vocabulary related to materials and sensations. Students should pay attention to its pronunciation and practice using it in context with related words like 纺织 (fǎngzhī - textile) and 感觉 (gǎnjué - feeling).
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, sesame seeds (which are also referred to as 麻) are commonly used in traditional dishes, particularly in sauces and desserts, highlighting its significance in both culinary practices and cultural symbolism.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 麻 (má) with 码 (mǎ), which means 'code' or 'measure.' An example of a mistake is saying '我觉得麻' (I feel hemp) instead of '我觉得麻木' (I feel numb). Correcting tone is important to avoid misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 麻
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Grammar Patterns of 麻
麻 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 11 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.
Every year, 5000 people have life-threatening reactions to anaesthetics.
10
我意识到英国人如果对爱尔兰问题加以泛化的话会招惹麻烦。
wǒ yì shí dào yīng guó rén rú guǒ duì ài ěr lán wèn tí jiā yǐ fàn huà de huà huì zhāo rě má fán。
I realise that an Englishman who generalises about Ireland invites trouble.
Cultural Notes for 麻
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese medicine, hemp has been used for its therapeutic properties, particularly in alleviating pain and inflammation. Its fibers are also utilized in making various textiles and ropes.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, sesame seeds (which are also referred to as 麻) are commonly used in traditional dishes, particularly in sauces and desserts, highlighting its significance in both culinary practices and cultural symbolism.
Word Family of 麻
Compounds17
嘛ma5modal particle indicating that sth is obvious
魔mo2devil
摩mo2to rub
糜mei2rice gruel, congee; mashed
麾hui1pennant, flag, banner; to signal to
麼me5interrogative particle
暦
縻mi2harness, halter; to tie up
麽me5interrogative particle
麿mo5I, you, personal name marker
黀
黁
塺
嫲
蔴
髍
黂
Words Containing This Character20
麻烦máfaninconvenient麻煩
麻másesame
大麻cannabis
麻醉mázuìanesthesia
麻将májiàngmahjong麻將
麻痹mábìparalysis麻痺
麻木mámùnumb
芝麻zhīmasesame (seed)
麻辣málàhot and numbing
惹麻烦to create difficulties惹麻煩
找麻烦to look for trouble找麻煩
麻雀sparrow
密密麻麻densely packed
麻疹measles
亚麻flax亞麻
麻袋sack
麻花worn out or worn smooth (of clothes)
添麻烦to inconvenience添麻煩
麻醉剂narcotic麻醉劑
肉麻sickening
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嘛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 麻
Yes, 麻 (má) is used in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly referring to hemp seeds, which are believed to have various health benefits including aiding digestion and promoting skin health. The seeds are often used in herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
麻 (má) refers to hemp or coarse materials, while 纱 (shā) typically refers to fine fabrics or gauze. 麻 is often used for sturdy textiles, while 纱 is used for lighter, more delicate materials. Understanding these differences can help in choosing the right fabric for clothing or other uses.
You can use 麻 (má) in sentences like '这件衣服是麻做的' (zhè jiàn yīfú shì má zuò de) which means 'This piece of clothing is made of hemp.' It can also be used in cooking contexts, such as '我喜欢麻辣火锅' (wǒ xǐhuān málà huǒguō) meaning 'I like spicy hot pot.'
麻 (má) primarily means 'hemp' or 'sesame' in Chinese. It can also describe materials that are rough or coarse, or refer to something that is pocked or pitted. This character is commonly used in contexts related to textiles, cooking, and descriptions of textures.
麻 is primarily used to refer to hemp and its fibers in textiles, as well as sesame seeds in cooking.
麻 is pronounced má with a rising tone, which is crucial because a different tone changes its meaning.
Yes, 麻 also describes sensations like numbness or tingling in the body.
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