Chinese–EnglishWith examples

嘛

má · ma/ma

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT

má 嘛

  1. used in 唵嘛呢叭咪吽 (ǎn má ní bā mī hōng)
  2. (Tw) (coll.) what?

ma 嘛

  1. modal particle indicating that sth is obvious
  2. particle indicating a pause for emphasis
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:15 cartoon

Hungry, obviously

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)又(yòu)在(zài)吃(chī)零食(língshí)？

    Why are you eating snacks again?

  2. Dengdeng

    饿(è)了(le)嘛(ma)！

    I am hungry, obviously!

  3. Liangliang

    刚(gāng)吃完(chīwán)饭(fàn)呀(ya)。

    You just finished a meal.

  4. Dengdeng

    那(nà)是(shì)中午(zhōngwǔ)的(de)饭(fàn)嘛(ma)，现在(xiànzài)是(shì)下午(xiàwǔ)。

    That was lunch, you know. Now it is afternoon.

  5. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)嘛(ma)，你(nǐ)说(shuō)得(de)对(duì)。那(nà)给(gěi)我(wǒ)也(yě)来(lái)一点(yīdiǎn)！

    Fine, you are right. Give me some too!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

奇(qí)迹(jì)就(jiù)是(shì)因(yīn)为(wèi)不(bú)会(huì)发(fā)生(shēng)，所(suǒ)以(yǐ)才(cái)叫(jiào)奇(qí)迹(jì)的(de)嘛(ma)。

Miracles are called miracles because they don't happen!

Tatoeba: Chinese by easononizuka · English by blay_paul · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

看(kàn)起(qǐ)来(lái)不(bù)怎(zěn)么(me)可(kě)爱(ài)嘛(ma)。

It doesn't look so cute.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fengli · English by easononizuka · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context