HanziGuru.罵 · mà
罵
mà[ma4]Tone 4

to scold

HSK 5
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骂
Guru Deep Dive

English · to scold

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Topology:Top-bottom
Strokes:15
Writing Balance Rule: The top component (四) must be flattened and compressed, while the bottom component (馬) needs plenty of horizontal width and a steady vertical centerline to support the upper weight.
Simplification Logic: The traditional character 罵 uses 罒 (net) on top and 馬 (horse) on the bottom. The simplified character 骂 replaces the top 罒 with two separate strokes and simplifies the bottom 馬 to its standard simplified form with a flat bottom stroke instead of hooks.
1. Meaning

to scold, curse, or verbally abuse someone

to rail againstto condemn
VerbColloquial#communication#emotion#conflict
Sample Usage
  • 他被老板骂了一顿。
    tā bèi lǎobǎn mà le yī dùn.
    He was scolded by his boss.
  • 不要随便骂人。
    bùyào suíbiàn mà rén.
    Don't curse at people casually.
2. Sound
/[ma⁵¹]/Tone: 51
罵
màma4
++
`(51)
=mà
Initial Consonant
m
Type: Bilabial Nasal
Sounds like: m sound as in 'mother'
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Nasal resonance through nostrils.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Lips pressed together lightly to voice the nasal 'm', then dropped open into the vowel.
Final Rhyme
a
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: a sound as in 'father'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ah'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and plunges sharply down, just like an abrupt command or an angry exclamation in English.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the sharp falling Tone 4 (mà) with the flat Tone 1 (mā) or rising Tone 2 (má), which completely changes the meaning from 'scold' to 'mother' or 'hemp'.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp karate chop downward from head height to waist level, reflecting anger or a reprimand.
3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 15 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The top component (四) must be flattened and compressed, while the bottom component (馬) needs plenty of horizontal width and a steady vertical centerline to support the upper weight.

Simplification Logic: The traditional character 罵 uses 罒 (net) on top and 馬 (horse) on the bottom. The simplified character 骂 replaces the top 罒 with two separate strokes and simplifies the bottom 馬 to its standard simplified form with a flat bottom stroke instead of hooks.

4. Components

Radical 网 · Net radical (as 罒) (net, web)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 口 (Indicates actions involving the mouth (speaking, scolding, cursing).)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 馬 (original sound: mǎ)

Imagine a wild horse (馬) caught in a net (罒), or someone opening their mouth (口) to whip words at someone like beating a horse.

  • 罒 Net or cage top
  • 馬 Horse (providing the sound 'ma')
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally formed as a phono-semantic compound where 馬 (mǎ) provides the pronunciation and another element or net-like structure conveys the trapping or capturing of someone through aggressive words.

Semantic Evolution: From catching or trapping someone with aggressive verbal attacks to general scolding, cursing, and verbal abuse.

  • In ancient times, verbal reprimands carried heavy legal and social weight.
  • The character pairs the imagery of a wild beast (horse) with a trap to depict unruly or wild speech needing taming.
6. Sinosphere
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

You trap a wild HORSE (馬) in a NET (罒), and it gets so angry that it opens its MOUTH and starts to scold (骂) you fiercely!

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
妈
māmotherChange the top part to the female radical 女 (woman) to get 'mother'.
码
mǎnumber, yardChange the top part to the stone radical 石 to get 'number' or 'code'.
蚂
mǎant, leechAdd the insect radical 虫 to get 'ant'.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
妈(mā)
妈 has the woman radical (女) on the left because mothers are women; 骂 has a net/horse structure on top/bottom dealing with verbal anger.
码(mǎ)
码 has the stone radical (石) on the left for numbers/weights; 骂 has the horse/net structure.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
小孩子不能隨便[___]人。
Clue: mà
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the tone with mā (mother) or mǎ (number), leading to hilarious or awkward mispronunciations like 'calling your mother names' instead of 'scolding'.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 骂, what does it mean and what is its tone?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to scold' (mà) using the horse component?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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