吗

má

Very common

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This word has multiple dictionary entries. Choose the reading or usage you want to review.

吗

ma Particle (question particle for \yes-no\ questions)

吗

má (coll.) what?

Definitions

1. (coll.) what?

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Stroke order

6 strokes

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item

• 呢 ne 呢 ne particle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word (\What about ...?\, \And ...?\) 呢 is another question particle, but it is used for reciprocal questions or to ask 'what about...?', whereas 吗 turns a statement into a yes-no question.: particle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word (\What about ...?\, \And ...?\)

Synonyms

2 items

• 什么 shén me 什么 shén me what? Both can mean 'what', but 吗 (má) is colloquial and often used in northern dialects, while 什么 (shénme) is standard.: what?
• 啥 shá 啥 shá dialectal equivalent of 什麼|什么[shén me] 啥 (shá) is another colloquial word for 'what', common in northern China, similar to 吗 (má).: dialectal equivalent of 什麼|什么[shén me]

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Don't confuse 吗 (má, 'what') with the question particle 吗 (ma). The tone and meaning are different.

Formality

吗 (má) is very colloquial and mainly used in spoken northern Mandarin. In formal or written contexts, use 什么 (shénme) instead.

Example Sentences

5 shown

吗 ？你说什么？

What? What did you say?

你干 吗 呢？

What are you doing?

你在干 吗 ？

What are you doing?

你在干 吗 呢？

What are you doing?

你在说 吗 ？

What are you saying?

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 吗

• 干吗 干吗 gàn má: see 幹嘛|干嘛[gàn má]
• 不是吗 不是吗 bù shì ma: isn't that so?
• 吗哪 吗哪 mǎ nǎ: manna (Israelite food)
• 吗啉 吗啉 mǎ lín: morpholine (chemistry) (loanword)
• 吗啡 吗啡 mǎ fēi: morphine (loanword)