么 (me) - Interrogative particle (used in questions) & diminutive suffix (informal)

么Tone 5

me ｜ 3 strokes ｜ radical: 丿

伦妙

么 · me

Interrogative particle (used in questions);

diminutive suffix (informal);

indicates smallness or affection.

Interrogative particle (used in questions)diminutive suffix (informal)indicates smallness or affection.

Usage highlights

WhatHowWhySo what?Diminutive suffixInterrogative particle

Synonyms

  • 吗— question particle (similar function)
  • 什么— what (when used in questions)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • What is your name?(你叫什么名字?)
  • Why are you late?(你怎么迟到了?)
  • This little thing is cute (这个小么儿真可爱).

Collocations

  • What(什么)
  • How(怎么)
  • Why(为什么)
  • So what?(那么)
  • Diminutive suffix(么儿)
  • Interrogative particle(么)

Idioms

  • No particular idiom with 么 alone; mainly appears in compound words

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally a variant of 麼 in traditional Chinese, now simplified to 么
  • Commonly used in northern Chinese dialects as a diminutive suffix
  • Frequently appears in interrogative constructions in modern Mandarin

FAQ