罵 meaning and stroke order
To accuse, to blame, to curse, to scold
How to write 罵, stroke by stroke
15 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 罵
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to scold
- to abuse
- to curse
How 罵 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Net.
罒 gives the meaning and 馬 hints at the sound.
Radical: 罒 (net), shared by 24 characters on this site.
How to remember 罵
罵 is a net 罒 on top of a horse 馬 (mǎ). Picture someone throwing a net over a horse and yelling at it, and the horse 馬 also gives the sound mà.
罵 (mà) means to scold or curse someone, and it is often used with a person as the object or in words like 罵人 (màrén). A common pattern is 挨罵 (áimà), to get scolded. Example: 他又被老師罵了。(Tā yòu bèi lǎoshī mà le.) He got scolded by the teacher again.
Common mistake: Learners often say this with third tone like 馬 (mǎ), but 罵 is fourth tone, mà. Also, the simplified form is 骂, which has two 口 on top instead of 罒, so do not mix the two shapes in one text.
Common words with 罵
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 罵
How many strokes are in 罵?
罵 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 罵 mean?
罵 (mà) means to accuse, to blame, to curse, to scold. A common word with it is 骂人 (màrén), meaning "to swear or curse (at people); to scold or yell at someone".
How do you pronounce 罵?
罵 is pronounced mà, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 罵?
The radical of 罵 is 罒, which carries the idea of "net". Dictionaries list 罵 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 罵?
罵 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 骂, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 罵 (mà) and 批評 (pīpíng)?
罵 is emotional scolding or cursing, often loud or rude. 批評 is criticism that can be calm and formal, like a boss giving feedback.
Does 打情罵俏 mean people are really fighting?
No. 打情罵俏 (dǎqíngmàqiào) describes playful teasing between people who like each other. The 罵 here is joking, not real anger.