About
吗 (traditional 嗎) is an interrogative particle that forms yes-no questions by appearing at the end of sentences. It is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 口 (mouth) on the left signifies that the character relates to speech or vocalization, while 马 (horse; traditional 馬) on the right is a phonetic component, indicating the pronunciation. Originally, 吗 was used for transliterating foreign words or imitating a scolding voice, but it later shifted entirely to its current role as a question marker in colloquial speech.
Example Sentences Hide
你吃饭了吗？
你会说中文吗？
你喜欢咖啡吗？
他现在在家吗？
你昨天去公园了吗？
你真的相信他吗？
如果下雨，你还来吗？
你认为这个计划可行吗？
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