Learn a Chinese Character - 吗 (Ma/Mǎ - Question particle; used at the end of a sentence to form a yes/no question)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 口 (kǒu) - Mouth radical

Stroke Count: 6 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Ma (neutral tone) as a question particle; Mǎ (third tone) in some rare cases

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Question particle; used at the end of a sentence to form a yes/no question

4. Common Words

• 是吗 (shì ma) - Is that right? / Really?
• 好吗 (hǎo ma) - Is that okay? / All right?
• 对吗 (duì ma) - Is that correct? / Right?
• 知道吗 (zhī dào ma) - Do you know?

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "吗" is primarily used as a question particle at the end of a declarative sentence to turn it into a yes/no question. It is one of the most common question particles in Mandarin Chinese.

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese communication, using the question particle "吗" is considered more polite than asking direct questions. It softens the tone of the inquiry and shows respect for the listener.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "吗" consists of the "口" (mouth) radical and "马" (horse). You can remember it as "using your mouth to ask about a horse," representing its function as a question particle.