TongTong
Sign in

麻雀 (má què) — sparrow (a small brown/grey bird); mahjong (the tile game)

Definition

One word, two unrelated meanings: the small bird 'sparrow' (count with 只) and 'mahjong' (the tile game, used in 打麻雀 'to play mahjong').

noun
sparrow (a small brown/grey bird)mahjong (the tile game)
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 麻雀。
    Yì zhī má què fēi dào le chuāng tái shàng.
    A sparrow flew onto the windowsill.
  • 麻雀。
    Zhōu mò tā men xǐ huan jù zài yì qǐ dǎ má què.
    On weekends they like to get together and play mahjong.
  • 麻雀。
    Gōng yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō má què zài zhǎo chī de.
    There are many sparrows in the park looking for food.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

麻mámottled
雀quèbird

“麻” suggests mottled coloring, and “雀” names a small bird; the game takes this bird’s name.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

麻 combines 厂 and 𣏟 to represent hemp leaves.

Open 麻 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

雀 combines 小 (small) and 隹 (bird), showing a small bird, a sparrow.

Open 雀 →
Appears in
Birds

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.