How to write 吗 (ma) — stroke order
吗 (ma) means “the yes-or-no question word.” It is written with 6 strokes, and its radical is 口 (kǒu, “mouth”). The strokes go 竖, 横折, 横, 横折, 竖折折钩, 横. Use it right away in a real line: 可以微信支付吗？ (Kěyǐ Wēixìn zhīfù ma?), “Can I pay with WeChat.”
- Strokes
- 6
- Radical
- 口 (kǒu, “mouth”) · Kangxi 30
- Meaning
- the yes-or-no question word
- Traditional
- 嗎
Watch it, then trace it
Tap Watch strokes for the order. Tap Trace it and draw each stroke with your finger or mouse.
ma
Stroke order, step by step
- 1 竖
- 2 横折
- 3 横
- 4 横折
- 5 竖折折钩
- 6 横
- Stroke 1 of 6 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the top left, goes down.
- Stroke 2 of 6 · 横折 héngzhé (horizontal then down): starts at the middle left, goes to the right, then down.
- Stroke 3 of 6 · 横 héng (horizontal): a short stroke at the middle left, to the right.
- Stroke 4 of 6 · 横折 héngzhé (horizontal then down): starts at the top, goes to the right, then down.
- Stroke 5 of 6 · 竖折折钩 shùzhézhégōu (vertical, turn, turn, hook): starts at the top, goes down, then to the right, then down and ends in a small hook left.
- Stroke 6 of 6 · 横 héng (horizontal): starts at the bottom left, goes to the right.
Writing tip
口 first. In 马, the middle stroke turns three times; the bottom line is last.
Lines on Hanyuwu with 吗
- 可以微信支付吗？ Kěyǐ Wēixìn zhīfù ma? — Can I pay with WeChat?Here 吗 is said ma.
Questions
How many strokes does 吗 have?
吗 has 6 strokes. 口 first. In 马, the middle stroke turns three times; the bottom line is last.
What is the radical of 吗?
The radical of 吗 is 口 (kǒu, “mouth”), Kangxi radical 30.
How do you pronounce 吗?
Ma, neutral (light) tone. In 可以微信支付吗 it keeps that tone.
Is 吗 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes: the traditional form is 嗎.
Printable practice sheet for 吗
Next characters: 可 · 以 · 微 · 信 · 支 · 付
Stroke animation: Hanzi Writer (MIT). Stroke shapes: Make Me a Hanzi via hanzi-writer-data, derived from Arphic PL fonts, Arphic Public License. Stroke counts: Unihan 17.0.0. Credits and licences