麻雀

máquè
noun #15,519

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 sparrow
  2. 2 (dialect) mahjong

Examples

Shùshàng tíng zhe jǐ zhī máquè.
There are a few sparrows perched on the tree.
Máquèsuīxiǎo, wǔzàng jùquán.
The sparrow may be small, but it has all its vital organs. (Small but complete.)

Tips

culture
The proverb 麻雀虽小五脏俱全 is commonly used to describe something small but complete in every aspect. In some dialects (especially Cantonese), 麻雀 also means mahjong — the game's name 麻将 (májiàng) may derive from this.

Stroke Order

què