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March 24, 2026
骂(罵)mà(ma4)
The character 骂 (mà) means to scold, curse, or abuse someone verbally. It is commonly used in contexts where someone expresses strong disapproval or anger towards another person, often in a heated or emotional manner. This term can also imply accusations or blame in a negative context.
Strokes9Radical口Frequency#3036DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, scolding can often happen within family settings, especially between parents and children, and may be viewed as a form of expressing care or concern rather than purely negative behavior. This reflects the cultural importance of hierarchy and authority within families.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person who is really mad and starts shouting at someone while waving their arms like a wild animal. The character 骂 has the radical for 'animal' (犭) on the left, hinting at the wildness of the scolding, and the right part resembles a mouth (口) which signifies speaking loudly. So, think of 'mà' as 'mad animal shouting'.
Meanings of 骂
mà(ma4)
1to scold
2to abuse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 骂
骂Simplified
罵Traditional
9Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3036Frequency Rank
通Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 骂
Podcast: 骂
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AI Study Notes for 骂
Quick Contrast
侮辱 (wǔrǔ, insult) vs 骂 (mà, scold) — use 侮辱 when implying a more formal or serious offense rather than just verbal scolding.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person who is really mad and starts shouting at someone while waving their arms like a wild animal. The character 骂 has the radical for 'animal' (犭) on the left, hinting at the wildness of the scolding, and the right part resembles a mouth (口) which signifies speaking loudly. So, think of 'mà' as 'mad animal shouting'.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 骂 (mà) with its more formal counterpart 责骂 (zémà), which is used in serious contexts. It’s more common in informal situations among friends or family. Additionally, remember that using this word can convey strong emotions, so be mindful of the tone and context.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 骂 (mà) connects well with other vocabulary related to emotions and interpersonal relationships. Focus on understanding how to use it in different contexts of conflict or disagreement, and try to practice forming sentences that express both scolding and softer critiques.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, scolding can often happen within family settings, especially between parents and children, and may be viewed as a form of expressing care or concern rather than purely negative behavior. This reflects the cultural importance of hierarchy and authority within families.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 骂 (mà) with 罵 (mà), which is an older form, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '他骂我' (Tā mà wǒ - He scolds me) is correct, while using 罵 in modern contexts may sound outdated.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 骂
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Grammar Patterns of 骂
骂 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
They hurled defiant taunts at the riot police, who responded in kind.
10
阿卜杜勒动辄责骂他抽烟太凶。
ā bǔ dù lè dòng zhé zé mà tā chōu yān tài xiōng。
Abdel felt free to tick him off for smoking too much.
Cultural Notes for 骂
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, scolding can often happen within family settings, especially between parents and children, and may be viewed as a form of expressing care or concern rather than purely negative behavior. This reflects the cultural importance of hierarchy and authority within families.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, openly scolding someone may be viewed as rude or inappropriate, while in Chinese culture, it can sometimes be seen as a necessary part of teaching or correcting behavior.
Word Family of 骂
Words Containing This Character20
骂màto scold罵
骂人to swear or curse (at people)罵人
咒骂to damn咒罵
辱骂to insult辱罵
谩骂to hurl abuse謾罵
责骂to scold責罵
破口大骂to abuse roundly破口大罵
打骂to beat and scold打罵
挨骂to receive a scolding挨罵
痛骂to bawl out痛罵
骂街to shout abuses in the street罵街
怒骂to curse in rage怒罵
臭骂tongue-lashing臭罵
对骂to hurl abuse對罵
骂骂咧咧to swear while talking罵罵咧咧
打情骂俏to banter flirtatiously打情罵俏
唾骂to revile唾罵
嬉笑怒骂to mock and scold嬉笑怒罵
骂娘to curse (at sb)罵娘
骂名infamy罵名
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 骂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 骂
Yes, 骂 (mà) is used in contexts that are negative, typically involving strong emotions such as anger or frustration.
It's generally considered informal and should be used cautiously in formal situations; opt for more formal terms like 责骂 (zémà) instead.
