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麻烦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
麻烦máfaninconvenientHSK 4, an, rank #455, Medium
麻烦máfantroublesomeHSK 4, an, rank #455, Medium
麻烦máfanannoyingHSK 4, an, rank #455, Medium
麻烦máfanto trouble or bother sbHSK 4, an, rank #455, Medium
麻烦máfanto put sb to troubleHSK 4, an, rank #455, Medium
máfan(ma2fan5) T2
  1. 1inconvenient
  2. 2troublesome
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March 24, 2026
麻烦(麻煩)máfan(ma2fan5)

麻烦 (má fan) refers to something that is inconvenient or troublesome. It can describe situations that cause annoyance or the act of bothering someone, often used in both personal and professional contexts to express the burden of a task or request.

Frequency#455DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being polite and avoiding trouble for others is highly valued. Saying 麻烦 can reflect a sense of responsibility when asking for help or when acknowledging the inconvenience one might cause.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person tangled in a ball of yarn (麻) that represents confusion, and a fan (烦) blowing it around, making the situation more chaotic. This visual connects the character's form to its meaning of causing trouble or inconvenience.

Meanings of 麻烦

máfan(ma2fan5)
1inconvenient
2troublesome
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 麻烦

麻烦Simplified
麻煩Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#455Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 麻烦

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Podcast: 麻烦

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AI Study Notes for 麻烦

Quick Contrast

麻烦 (máfan) vs 困难 (kùnnán) — use 麻烦 for minor inconveniences or annoyances, while 困难 refers to more serious difficulties or challenges.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person tangled in a ball of yarn (麻) that represents confusion, and a fan (烦) blowing it around, making the situation more chaotic. This visual connects the character's form to its meaning of causing trouble or inconvenience.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; it can come across as too direct or informal in certain contexts. Common collocations include 麻烦你 (to trouble you) and 麻烦了 (it's been troublesome). Avoid using it in excessively formal situations.

HSK Study Tips

At HSK Level 4, 麻烦 connects well with other words relating to emotions and communication. Students should focus on using it in polite requests and understanding its nuances in different contexts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being polite and avoiding trouble for others is highly valued. Saying 麻烦 can reflect a sense of responsibility when asking for help or when acknowledging the inconvenience one might cause.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 麻烦 with 不好 (not good), using it incorrectly in phrases like '这件事不好' instead of '这件事麻烦'. Remember, 麻烦 specifically addresses inconvenience.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 麻烦

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Component Characters

麻máhemp
HSK 711 strokes麻
View full entry
烦fánto feel vexed
HSK 410 strokes火
View full entry

Write 麻烦

麻
烦

Practice writing 麻烦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 麻烦

麻烦 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

搬家又累又____，我真不想搬。

Moving house is both tiring and troublesome — I really do not want to move.

Example Sentences for 麻烦 (10)

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1
“利奥，我妈妈觉得我不应该再在这儿麻烦你了，”格雷丝说。

“ “ lì， ào ， wǒ mā mā jué dé wǒ bù yīng gāi zài zài zhè ér má fán，” nǐ le ，” gé。

"Mum thinks I should stop imposing on your hospitality, Leo," said Grace.
2
我可不是开玩笑,事情够麻烦的了.

wǒ kě bù shì kāi wán xiào, , shì qíng gòu má fán de.

I'm serious, things are difficult enough as they are.
3
无论出现什么样的麻烦，我们都会在貌似混乱的情形中保持平和的心态。

wú lùn chū xiàn shí mó yàng de má fán， ， wǒ mén dū huì zài mào sì hùn luàn de qíng xíng zhōng bǎo chí píng hé de xīn。

Whatever troubles arise, we'll have peace of mind amidst seeming chaos.
4
人们说，如果我们再不积极行动起来，我们就会有麻烦。

rén mén shuō， ， rú guǒ wǒ mén zài bù jī jí háng dòng qǐ， lái ， wǒ mén jiù huì yǒu。

People are saying if we don't buck up we'll be in trouble.
5
麻烦你把这个包裹交给米勒先生好 吗 ?

má fán nǐ bǎ zhè gè bāo guǒ jiāo gěi mǐ lè xiān shēng hǎo?

Could I bother you to give the package to Mr. Miller?
6
我意识到英国人如果对爱尔兰问题加以泛化的话会招惹麻烦。

wǒ yì shí dào yīng guó rén rú guǒ duì ài ěr lán wèn tí jiā yǐ fàn huà de huà huì zhāo rě má fán。

I realise that an Englishman who generalises about Ireland invites trouble.
7
你特立独行的行事方式可能会给自己惹来麻烦。

nǐ tè lì dú háng de háng shì fāng shì kě néng huì gěi zì jǐ rě lái má fán。

Your non-conformist ways will probably get you into trouble.
8
让守法的人持有枪械并不会惹麻烦。

ràng shǒu fǎ de rén chí yǒu qiāng xiè bìng bù huì rě má fán。

Gun ownership by law-abiding people was not a problem.
9
虽然我有时会觉得这是在找麻烦，但是通常并不会这样。

suī rán wǒ yǒu shí huì jué dé zhè shì zài zhǎo má fán， ， dàn shì tōng cháng bìng bù huì zhè。

Although sometimes I feel like bothering, as often as not I don't.
10
这只会在以后给我带来更多麻烦。

zhè zhī huì zài yǐ hòu gěi wǒ dài lái gēng duō má fán。

This is only going to cause me more problems later on.

Cultural Notes for 麻烦

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being polite and avoiding trouble for others is highly valued. Saying 麻烦 can reflect a sense of responsibility when asking for help or when acknowledging the inconvenience one might cause.

Frequently Asked Questions about 麻烦

Yes, it's common to say 麻烦你 to politely ask someone for help.