吗
Character learning workspace

má / mǎ / ma · final interrogative particle

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 1HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #83
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Learn every stroke in 吗

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

吗 has 3 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

má

(coll.) what?

mǎ

used in 嗎啡|吗啡[ma3 fei1]

吗哪mǎ nǎ · manna
ma

(question particle for "yes-no" questions)

约吗yuē ma ·
Step-by-step explorer

See how 吗 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

6Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

口Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 吗 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 吗 sits in each complete thought.

Zhè shì duì de, bú shì ma?这是对的,不是吗?

That's right, isn't it?

Source: Tatoeba #9932531 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ zhēn de ài tā, bú shì ma?你真的爱她,不是吗?

You do love her, don't you?

Source: Tatoeba #10484391 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì nǐ de ma?这是你的吗?

Is it yours?

Source: Tatoeba #1311790 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì nǐ yào de ma?这是你要的吗?

Is this something you want?

Source: Tatoeba #5663588 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ shì zài duì wǒ shuō ma?你是在对我说吗?

Are you speaking to me?

Source: Tatoeba #1827545 · CC BY 2.0 FR
“ zhè xiē chē shì nǐ de ma?”“ shì de, shì wǒ de.”“这些车是你的吗?”“是的,是我的。”

"Are these cars yours?" "Yes, they are mine."

Source: Tatoeba #332487 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 吗 in context

  1. Say má / mǎ / ma, then recall the core meaning: final interrogative particle.
  2. Write all 6 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 吗哪 (mǎ nǎ), meaning “manna”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 吗 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.