Definitions
(particle)
suffix used in question words and expressions of degree
(particle)
interrogative final particle
(particle)
exclamatory final particle
(adjective)
tiny; insignificant
Etymology
Variant form of 幺, which is a pictograph of a twisted thread.
About
The character '么' traces its lineage to the earlier form '幺', which carried the meaning of something small or youthful, and it subsequently functioned as a simplified graphical substitute for the more complex traditional variants '麼' and '麽'. Its structure, a streamlined rendition of '幺' with fewer strokes, has allowed it to operate both as an independent character and a recurrent component within compound formations. Originally associated with concepts of slightness, its semantic center gradually shifted toward grammatical purposes, most notably becoming an essential enclitic in interrogative constructions such as '什么' (what) and '怎么' (how), a transition marking its movement from a lexical descriptor to a functional linguistic particle.
Example Sentences Hide
你叫什么名字？
你怎么去学校？
那么我们就走吧。
你想吃什么水果？
我怎么知道这件事？
天空那么蓝那么美。
我没有什么钱。
你怎么能这样说话？