嘛 (ma) - A final particle used to indicate obviousness, mild & also used in transliteration of Sanskrit mantras.

嘛Tone 5

ma ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

嘛 · ma

A final particle used to indicate obviousness, mild emphasis, or to soften a statement;

also used in transliteration of Sanskrit mantras.

A final particle used to indicate obviousness, mildalso used in transliteration of Sanskrit mantras.

Usage highlights

Isn't it obviousThat's just how it isDon't be like thatCome on nowOm Mani Padme HumFinal particle

Synonyms

  • 吗— question particle (more interrogative)
  • 啊— exclamatory particle
  • 呢— continuation particle

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • It's obvious, isn't it?(这不是明摆着的嘛。)
  • Don't worry about it(别担心嘛。)
  • That's just how it is(本来就是这样的嘛。)
  • The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum(唵嘛呢叭咪吽)

Collocations

  • Isn't it obvious(可不是嘛)
  • That's just how it is(本来就是嘛)
  • Don't be like that(别这样嘛)
  • Come on now(好了嘛)
  • Om Mani Padme Hum(唵嘛呢叭咪吽)
  • Final particle(语气助词嘛)

Idioms

  • Om Mani Padme Hum (the six-syllable mantra of compassion)(唵嘛呢叭咪吽)
  • Used as a rhetorical particle to indicate obviousness(表示显而易见的语气词)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Commonly used in colloquial Mandarin as a sentence-final particle to soften statements or indicate obviousness.
  • Appears in Buddhist mantras, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism's Om Mani Padme Hum.

FAQ