Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
麽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
麽
mó
interrogative particle
x, 14 strokes, radical 麻
麽
mó
tiny
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 麻
麽
mó
insignificant
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 麻
麽
me
interrogative particle
x, 14 strokes, radical 麻
麽
me
tiny
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 麻
麽
me
insignificant
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 麻
me(me5)
primary
T5
1interrogative particle
2tiny
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
麽(麼)me(me5)
The character 麽 (me) is primarily used as an interrogative particle in Mandarin, often found at the end of a question to seek clarification or confirmation. It can also convey a sense of insignificance or smallness, typically in informal contexts, making it a playful addition to speech when implying that something is trivial or not worth much attention.
Strokes14Radical麻
Cultural note
In casual Chinese conversations, using 麽 can add a lighthearted tone to your questions, reflecting the cultural emphasis on maintaining a friendly atmosphere in communication. It is often used in playful or rhetorical questions among friends.
Memory tip
Imagine a small, insignificant 'me' (麽) waving its tiny hand, trying to get your attention. The character 麽 combines the radical for grain (米), suggesting something small and humble, with the phonetic component (么), which sounds like 'me'. Picture this tiny grain trying to shout, 'Is this really important?'
Meanings of 麽
me(me5)
primary
1interrogative particle
2tiny
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 麽 means.
About 麽
麽Simplified
麼Traditional
14Strokes
麻Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 麽
Podcast: 麽
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 麽
Usage Notes
麽 is commonly used in informal speech, particularly in questions, and may not be appropriate in formal writing. Learners often confuse it with 么 (me), which has a similar pronunciation and usage but can have different meanings in different contexts. Be careful with tone; it should always be pronounced in a neutral tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 麽 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with HSK vocabulary through its interrogative function, similar to 何 (hé, 'what') and 怎么 (zěnme, 'how'). Focus on practicing its usage in casual conversations and questions to enhance your speaking fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 麽 in formal situations or with incorrect tones. For instance, saying '你想要麽?' instead of '你想要吗?' (nǐ xiǎng yào ma?) is incorrect; the latter is the proper way to ask 'Do you want it?'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 麽
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 麽, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 麽 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 麽?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 麽 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
麽 = 么 + 麻. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 麽
IDS Structure⿸麻么
麽Full character
=
麻ma2
enclosing
么ma2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 麽?
How to say interrogative particle in Chinese
“interrogative particle” in Chinese is麽mó
The character 麽 (me) is primarily used as an interrogative particle in Mandarin, often found at the end of a question to seek clarification or confirmation. It can also convey a sense of insignificance or smallness, typically in informal contexts, making it a playful addition to speech when implying that something is trivial or not worth much attention.
When to use 麽
麽 is commonly used in informal speech, particularly in questions, and may not be appropriate in formal writing. Learners often confuse it with 么 (me), which has a similar pronunciation and usage but can have different meanings in different contexts. Be careful with tone; it should always be pronounced in a neutral tone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 麽 in formal situations or with incorrect tones. For instance, saying '你想要麽?' instead of '你想要吗?' (nǐ xiǎng yào ma?) is incorrect; the latter is the proper way to ask 'Do you want it?'.
Write 麽
麽
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 麽 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 麽
麽 carries 3 distinct meanings. 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这些小猫看上去一模一样--你怎____能分出哪个是哪个?
These kittens look exactly alike how can you tell which is which?
What are they doing drinking at this end of town? Slumming, I suppose.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 麽?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 麽
Words containing this character2
麽metiny麼
幺麽小丑yāomóxiǎochǒuinsignificant wretch么麼小醜
Exercise 1 of 1
Words with 麽
What does 幺麽小丑 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 麽
No, 麽 is primarily used in informal speech and should be avoided in formal contexts.
While both are pronounced 'me', 么 is frequently used in different grammatical constructions, whereas 麽 specifically serves as an interrogative particle.
Yes, 麽 is understood in various Chinese dialects, but its usage may vary, with some regions favoring other interrogative forms.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 麽?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
