Definitions

(noun) agate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "玛" derives from its traditional form "瑪", a phono-semantic compound constructed from the semantic component "玉" meaning jade and the phonetic component "馬" representing the sound, later simplified to "马". Initially embedded in the term "瑪瑙" for agate, a vitreous mineral, its usage historically centered on this specific word before being adopted more broadly for phonetic transliterations of foreign words and names, such as in "玛利亚" for Maria. While the jade radical semantically linked it to precious stone in its original context, the character's meaning has remained largely confined to these transliterative and compound functions, without acquiring significant standalone conceptual value.

Example Sentences Hide

丽是我的朋友。

Mǎlì shì wǒ de péngyǒu.

Mary is my friend.

这个瑙很漂亮。

Zhège mǎnǎo hěn piàoliang.

This agate is very beautiful.

丽的哥哥来了。

Mǎlì de gēge láile.

Mary's older brother came.

我喜欢瑙的颜色。

Wǒ xǐhuān mǎnǎo de yánsè.

I like the color of agate.

丽每天学习中文。

Mǎlì měitiān xuéxí zhōngwén.

Mary studies Chinese every day.

这块瑙是从巴西来的。

Zhè kuài mǎnǎo shì cóng Bāxī lái de.

This piece of agate is from Brazil.

丽和她的朋友一起去公园。

Mǎlì hé tā de péngyǒu yīqǐ qù gōngyuán.

Mary and her friends go to the park together.

那个商店里卖各种颜色的瑙。

Nàgè shāngdiàn lǐ mài gèzhǒng yánsè de mǎnǎo.

That shop sells agates of various colors.