Chinese word

麻木

Pronunciation

Pinyinmá mù

Meaning

  • adjectivenumb

Example

我的手麻木了。wǒ de shǒu má mù le

My hand is numb.

Illustration for 麻木 (numb)

More examples

听到这个消息，他显得有些麻木。tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xī tā xiǎn de yǒu xiē má mù

After hearing the news, he seemed somewhat numb.

Core concept

A body or mind loses its normal response, like a limb that barely feels touch or a person who no longer reacts with interest.

Common phrases

  • 感到麻木gǎn dào má mù

    feel numb

  • 手脚麻木shóu jiǎo má mù

    numb hands and feet

  • 麻木不仁má mù bù rén

    numb and indifferent

Similar words

麻痹má bì: A body part has lost much of its feeling and moves poorly.
迟钝chí dùn: Sensing or reacting sluggishly, so normal responses take extra time.
麻木不仁má mù bù rén: So dulled in feeling that almost nothing can be sensed.
无知觉wú zhī jué: Unable to sense anything through touch, including pain and heat or cold.

Definition in Chinese

身体某部位的感觉减弱或消失，常见于压迫、受凉或循环不良；也可作为比喻表示对事物无感觉或无兴趣。shēn tǐ mǒu bù wèi de gǎn jué jiǎn ruò huò xiāo shī cháng jiàn yú yā pò shòu liáng huò xún huán bù liáng yě kě zuò wéi bǐ yù biǎo shì duì shì wù wú gǎn jué huò wú xìng qù

Word origin

麻木 (mámù, "numb") combines 麻 (má, "tingling or numb") with 木 (mù, "wood"), suggesting a body part that feels stiff and unresponsive like wood.

Usage tips

  • In casual conversation, 麻了 (má le, "went numb") often suits a briefly tingling hand or foot, while 麻木 (mámù, "numb") is more descriptive and also works for emotional detachment.

Other meanings

  • numbnessnoun
  • indifferentadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word