Meaning of 骂
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to scold
- to abuse
- to curse
Measure word: 通,頓|顿
- variant of 罵|骂[ma4]
How to use 骂
骂 means to scold someone or to curse and swear at them. It is common in everyday speech, often with 人 or as 挨骂 (áimà, to get scolded). Example: 他迟到了，被老板骂了一顿。(Tā chídào le, bèi lǎobǎn mà le yí dùn.) He was late and got a scolding from the boss.
骂 (mà) has two mouths 口口 on top of a horse 马. Picture two loud mouths yelling at a horse, and you have "to scold." The 马 (mǎ) part also hints at the sound.
Common mistake: Learners often say mǎ, but 骂 is fourth tone, mà. Mixing it up can turn "scold" into 马 (mǎ, horse) or 吗 (ma). Also, 吗 has only one 口 on the left side, while 骂 has two 口 on top.
骂 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
骂 mà · to scold · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 骂.
Questions about 骂
What does 骂 mean?
骂 (mà) means "to scold; to abuse" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 骂?
骂 is made of 1 character: 骂 (9 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 骂 an HSK word?
Yes. 骂 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 骂 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 骂 is written 罵.
What is the difference between 骂 and 批评?
批评 (pīpíng) means to criticize, often calmly and with reasons, as in a teacher's feedback. 骂 is harsher and more emotional, and it can involve shouting or rude words.
How do you say "don't swear" or "don't curse at people" in Chinese?
You can say 别骂人 (bié mà rén) or 不要骂人 (bú yào mà rén). Parents often say this to children who use bad words.