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嘛

ma
particle HSK 6 #237

Meanings

  1. 1 particle indicating something is obvious
  2. 2 used to emphasize or explain (isn't it obvious?)

Examples

他是学生嘛，当然要学习。
Tā shì xuéshēng ma, dāngrán yào xuéxí.
He's a student, so of course he should study.
你慢慢来嘛，不着急。
Nǐ mànman lái ma, bù zháojí.
Take your time, no rush.
大家都是朋友嘛。
Dàjiā dōu shì péngyou ma.
We're all friends, after all.
有什么好怕的嘛。
Yǒu shénme hǎo pà de ma.
What is there to be afraid of?

Tips

usage
嘛 (neutral tone) is different from 吗 (ma, question particle). 嘛 implies 'it's obvious' or 'naturally' — it assumes the listener should agree. It softens the tone while making a point.
usage
Common pattern: [reason/fact] + 嘛 = 'well obviously, because...' It's casual and conversational.

Stroke Order

嘛 ma