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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Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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
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AI Study Notes for 麽
Memory Mnemonic
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?'
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.
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.
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
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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
Complete the Sentence
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?
These kittens look exactly alike how can you tell which is which?
2
有什麽地方漏煤气了--你闻到了 吗 ?
yǒu shí mó dì fāng lòu méi qì le-- -- nǐ wén dào le?
There's gas escaping somewhere can you smell it?
3
吃什麽饭? 我饿得要命.
chī shí mó fàn? ? wǒ è dé yào.
What's for dinner? I could eat a horse.
4
走了那麽久, 你一定又累又渴吧.
zǒu le nà mó jiǔ, , nǐ yī dìng yòu léi yòu kě.
Walking for so long, you must be both tired and thirsty.
5
身强力壮的人才能举得起那麽重的东西.
shēn qiáng lì zhuàng de rén cái néng jǔ dé qǐ nà mó zhòng de dōng xī.
It would take a strong man to lift that weight.
6
若你从十拿走了七, 剩馀的部分是什麽?
ruò nǐ cóng shí ná zǒu le qī, , shèng yú de bù fēn shì shí?
If you take 7 from 10, what is the remainder?
7
你怎麽这麽笨竟相信他的话?
nǐ zěn mó zhè mó bèn jìng xiāng xìn tā de huà?
How could you is so stupid as to believe him?
8
天哪! 你怎麽这麽笨 哪 ?
tiān nǎ! ! nǐ zěn mó zhè mó bèn?
For goodness'sake! How can you be so stupid?
9
节 ) 主和亚巴辣罕订立的盟约有什麽标记?
jié) ) zhǔ hé yà bā là hǎn dìng lì de méng yuē yǒu shí mó biāo?
Q 2 : ( v.9 - 14 ) What is the sign of God's covenant with Abraham?
10
他们为什麽到城里这个地方来饮酒? 我猜是想看看这穷地方的吧.
tā mén wéi shí mó dào chéng lǐ zhè gè dì fāng lái yǐn jiǔ? ? wǒ cāi shì xiǎng kàn kàn zhè qióng dì fāng de.
What are they doing drinking at this end of town? Slumming, I suppose.
Cultural Notes for 麽
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 麽
Words Containing This Character2
麽metiny麼
幺麽小丑insignificant wretch么麼小醜
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 麽 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.
