枚 meaning and stroke order
Classifier for small objects: coins, badges, rings, carved seals, chess pieces, eggs, fingerprints etc (more formal than 個|个[ge4]); classifier for bombs, missiles, satellites etc; (on product packaging) classifier for flat items (from Japanese 枚 "mai")
How to write 枚, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 枚
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- classifier for small objects: coins, badges, rings, carved seals, chess pieces, eggs, fingerprints etc (more formal than 個|个[ge4])
- classifier for bombs, missiles, satellites etc
- (on product packaging) classifier for flat items (from Japanese 枚 "mai")
- (old) stick used as a gag to prevent soldiers from talking while sneaking up on the enemy
How 枚 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Tree.
木 gives the meaning and 攵 hints at the sound.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 枚
枚 combines 木 (tree) on the left with 攵 on the right. Picture a hand with a stick snapping a small piece off a tree trunk; that small piece is one 枚, which is why the character counts small objects.
Today 枚 is mostly a measure word for small, often round or flat things like coins, medals, rings, seals and eggs, and also for missiles and satellites. It sounds more formal or written than 个 (gè). Example: 他得了一枚金牌。(Tā dé le yì méi jīnpái.) He won a gold medal.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 枚 with 枝 (zhī), which also has 木 on the left but counts long thin things like branches and pens. Also remember the tone is second tone méi, not third tone měi as in 每 (měi, every).
枚 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 枚
How many strokes are in 枚?
枚 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 枚 mean?
枚 (méi) means classifier for small objects: coins, badges, rings, carved seals, chess pieces, eggs, fingerprints etc (more formal than 個|个[ge4]); classifier for bombs, missiles, satellites etc; (on product packaging) classifier for flat items (from Japanese 枚 "mai").
How do you pronounce 枚?
枚 is pronounced méi, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 枚?
The radical of 枚 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 枚 under this radical.
Is 枚 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 枚 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I use 个 instead of 枚?
In casual speech, yes, 一个硬币 (yí gè yìngbì) is fine. 枚 sounds more precise and formal, so it is common in news, writing and descriptions of medals, stamps or weapons.
Why does 枚 appear on Chinese snack packaging?
On packaging, 枚 can count flat items like biscuits or sheets, a usage borrowed from Japanese 枚 (mai). You might see something like 10枚 meaning 10 pieces.