About
The character 麻 originates as a pictograph representing hemp plants hanging for processing under a shelter, with its traditional form comprising the radical 广, indicating a building or shelter, placed over 林, which in this context depicts multiple stalks of hemp. Its primary and original meaning was the hemp plant itself, from which useful fibers were extracted to make cloth and rope. From this concrete sense, the character’s meaning broadened to refer to the textured products made from the plant, such as linen or sackcloth. Over time, semantic extensions developed, including the concept of "pitted" or "pocked", as in the word for pockmarks, likely describing a surface texture resembling coarse hemp cloth, and the meaning of "numb", a physical sensation perhaps metaphorically linked to the prickly feeling of the plant or the effects of certain hemp-derived substances. This range of meanings is evident in various compound words that utilize the character.
Etymology Hide
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。