Definitions

me (particle) suffix used in question words and expressions of degree
ma (particle) interrogative final particle
(particle) exclamatory final particle
(adjective) tiny; insignificant

Etymology

Variant form of , which is a pictograph of a twisted thread.

About

The traditional form 麼 uses 麻 (hemp) as a phonetic and semantic component, with 幺 indicating smallness. Its simplified form retains only 幺. Originally meaning small or tiny, a sense preserved in the rare pronunciation yāo, the character now functions primarily as a grammatical suffix, forming interrogative and demonstrative pronouns.

Example Sentences Hide

你叫什名字?

Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?

What is your name?

你怎去学校?

Nǐ zěnme qù xuéxiào?

How do you go to school?

我们就走吧。

Nàme wǒmen jiù zǒu ba.

Then let's go.

你想吃什水果?

Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme shuǐguǒ?

What fruit do you want to eat?

我怎知道这件事?

Wǒ zěnme zhīdào zhè jiàn shì?

How do I know this matter?

天空那蓝那美。

Tiānkōng nàme lán nàme měi.

The sky is so blue and so beautiful.

我没有什钱。

Wǒ méiyǒu shénme qián.

I don't have much money.

你怎能这样说话?

Nǐ zěnme néng zhèyàng shuōhuà?

How can you talk like this?