About
The character "麻" originated from an early pictorial concept of the hemp plant, with its structure conceptually combining elements that evoke hemp fibers hung within a sheltered space for drying and processing, thereby anchoring its initial meaning to the plant and its coarse textile fiber. This primary association with hemp naturally extended to products made from its fiber, such as cloth and rope, and through tactile metaphor, the prickly or irritating quality of coarse hemp fabric likely influenced the development of its meaning toward physical numbness. Over time, the semantic range of "麻" further broadened to describe any rough or pockmarked surface, as seen in terms like "麻脸" for a pockmarked face, and it was incorporated into words such as "芝麻" for sesame, where it alludes to the seed's textured hull. While the graphic composition of "麻" has seen little change across centuries, its conceptual evolution demonstrates a shift from a concrete botanical reference to a versatile linguistic element carrying multiple derived and abstract meanings.
Example Sentences Hide
请不要麻烦我。
他的腿有点麻木。
妈妈用麻布做袋子。
我喜欢吃麻辣火锅。
他们经常一起打麻将。
医生使用了麻药。
这根麻绳很结实。
虽然麻布粗糙，但它很耐用。