Chinese word

骂

Pronunciation

Pinyinmà

Meaning

  • verbscold

Example

他被老师骂了。tā bèi lǎo shī mà le

He was scolded by the teacher.

Illustration for 骂 (scold)

More examples

网友在评论区互相骂。wáng yǒu zài píng lùn qū hù xiāng mà

Netizens insult each other in the comments.

Core concept

An angry speaker attacks another person's dignity with words.

Common phrases

  • 挨骂ái mà

    get scolded

  • 被骂得很惨bèi mà de hén cǎn

    get severely scolded

  • 骂得很厉害mà de hěn lì hài

    scold harshly

Similar words

责备zé bèi: Calls attention to a person's mistake or fault to express disapproval.
批评pī píng: Identifies faults in an action or opinion and calls for improvement.
斥责chì zé: Publicly or officially condemns someone strongly and demands accountability.
辱骂rǔ mà: Uses insulting language to attack someone's dignity and humiliate them.

Definition in Chinese

用带有侮辱性或攻击性的词语说话，旨在贬低、羞辱对方或发泄愤怒。yòng dài yǒu wú rǔ xìng huò gōng jī xìng de cí yǔ shuō huà zhǐ zài biǎn dī xiū rǔ duì fāng huò fā xiè fèn nù

Word origin

骂 (mà, "scold") is the modern simplified form of a character used for the same verb in earlier writing, rather than a new word formed from its visible components.

Usage tips

  • The verb normally points to a target person, while English can describe a general outburst without naming one, so this difference helps distinguish an attack on someone from mere angry language.

Other meanings

  • insultverb
  • swear atverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 辱骂rǔ màinsultverb
  • 责骂zé màreprimandverb

Word lists with this word