Definitions

(noun) agate

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 玛 (mǎ) combines the jade radical 王 (yù), which typically denotes precious stones, with the phonetic component 马 (mǎ), meaning "horse". Its traditional form 瑪 follows the same structure with 馬. This character is primarily used in transliterating mineral names, most commonly in the compound word "mǎnǎo" (玛瑙), meaning agate or cornelian. The inclusion of the horse component in the word for agate stems from ancient observations that the stone's layered patterns resembled the intricate folds of a horse's brain.

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.