Word

麻辣 (má là) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 麻辣

形 xíng adjective

numbing and spicy

我很喜欢吃麻辣火锅。

wǒ hěn xǐ huan chī má là huǒ guō

I really like eating mala hotpot.

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Word breakdown

麻 má — numbing, tingling sensation

1 麻烦 má fan — to trouble HSK 4
- 麻 tangled/complicated
- 烦 annoyed/vexed
Example

我不想麻烦你。

wǒ bù xiǎng má fan nǐ

I don't want to trouble you.
2 芝麻 zhī ma — sesame HSK 7
- 芝 sesame (plant)
- 麻 hemp, fibrous plant
Example

这个面包上撒了很多芝麻。

zhè ge miàn bāo shàng sǎ le hěn duō zhī ma

This bread has a lot of sesame sprinkled on it.
3 麻将 má jiàng — mahjong HSK 7
- 麻 sparrow (derived from 麻雀); refers to the clicking sound of tiles
- 将 completes the game name (from 麻雀, sparrow)
Example

我们周末经常打麻将。

wǒ men zhōu mò jīng cháng dǎ má jiàng

We often play mahjong on weekends.
4 麻木 má mù — numb HSK 7
- 麻 numb, tingling
- 木 stiff, insensitive
Example

我的腿坐久了感到麻木。

wǒ de tuǐ zuò jiǔ le gǎn dào má mù

My leg feels numb after sitting for a long time.
5 麻痹 má bì — to paralyze, to numb HSK 7
- 麻 numb, lack of sensation
- 痹 paralysis, obstruction
Example

寒冷麻痹了我的手指。

hán lěng má bì le wǒ de shǒu zhǐ

The cold numbed my fingers.

辣 là — spicy, hot (as in chili peppers)

1 酸甜苦辣 suān tián kǔ là — the joys and sorrows of life HSK 5
- 酸 sour; represents sadness and difficulties
- 甜 sweet; represents happiness and joy
- 苦 bitter; represents hardship and suffering
- 辣 spicy; represents intense and challenging experiences
Example

在国外生活，我尝遍了酸甜苦辣。

zài guó wài shēng huó wǒ cháng biàn le suān tián kǔ là

Living abroad, I've experienced all the ups and downs of life.
2 辣椒 là jiāo — chili pepper HSK 6
- 辣 spicy, hot (describes the spicy quality)
- 椒 pepper (the plant/fruit)
Example

这道菜太辣了，放了很多辣椒。

zhè dào cài tài là le fàng le hěn duō là jiāo

This dish is too spicy, it has a lot of chili peppers in it.
3 火辣辣 huǒ là là — burning hot, stinging HSK 7
- 火 fire; indicates burning, fiery quality
- 辣 spicy, hot; provides the stinging, burning sensation
- 辣 spicy (repeated); intensifies and emphasizes the burning sensation
Example

太阳火辣辣地照在脸上。

tài yáng huǒ là là de zhào zài liǎn shàng

The sun shines burning hot on the face.

Structure & writing

1 麻 má — herbaceous plant of the hemp family (e.g. cannabis, ramie, abutilon, flax); stem-bark fiber used to make rope and cloth

麻 is a component in 4 characters

HSK 6

嘛 ma particle indicating something is obvious or self-evident 摩 mó to rub; to move back and forth against something

HSK 7

磨 mó to rub; to wear away 魔 mó evil demon or malevolent spirit in religion or mythology; metaphor for harmful forces

consists of

1.1 广 guǎng — wide; broad (opposite of 狭)

广 is a component in 31 characters

HSK 1

床 chuáng bed (furniture for sleeping) 店 diàn shop; store

HSK 3

应 yìng to reply; to answer 康 kāng healthy 矿 kuàng mineral resources

HSK 4

庆 qìng to congratulate; to celebrate 序 xù order; sequence 底 dǐ the bottom part (～子, ～儿) 度 dù instrument or unit for measuring length 座 zuò seat; honorific term for a high-ranking official in former times

Show more HSK 4 characters (+2)

庭 tíng hall; main room of a house 麻 má herbaceous plant of the hemp family (e.g. cannabis, ramie, abutilon, flax); stem-bark fiber used to make rope and cloth

HSK 5

席 xí mat woven from reed, bamboo, or grass strips, used to cover a bed, floor, or build a shelter 库 kù storehouse; warehouse; storage facility 府 fǔ government office; organ of state power 扩 kuò to expand, enlarge; to increase in scope, scale, or quantity 腐 fǔ to rot; to decay

HSK 6

庄 zhuāng village; rural settlement 庞 páng large (in size or quantity) 廊 láng covered corridor or passageway under eaves

HSK 7

唐 táng boastful; exaggerated (in speech) 庇 bì to shelter, to shield 庙 miào ancestral shrine (where ancestral tablets are enshrined) 废 fèi to discontinue; to stop using 庸 yōng ordinary; mediocre

Show more HSK 7 characters (+6)

廉 lián upright and honest; incorruptible 廓 kuò outer edge or contour of an object 旷 kuàng empty and vast; open and spacious 缠 chán to wind around, to wrap around 遮 zhē to block from view; to obscure 鹰 yīng hawk; eagle (a bird of prey with hooked beak, short neck, feathered legs, and sharp talons)

1.2 林 lín — forest; grove of trees or bamboo

林 is a component in 8 characters

HSK 3

楚 chǔ vitex (a type of deciduous shrub, as referenced in classical texts)

HSK 4

梦 mèng dream (physiological phenomenon during sleep) 禁 jìn to forbid; to prohibit 麻 má herbaceous plant of the hemp family (e.g. cannabis, ramie, abutilon, flax); stem-bark fiber used to make rope and cloth

HSK 6

淋 lín to drip or splash onto a surface

HSK 7

婪 lán greedy; insatiably covetous of wealth 彬 bīn refined and cultured (see "彬彬") 焚 fén to burn

Stroke order

2 辣 là — spicy; pungent (like ginger, garlic, or chili pepper)

辣 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 辛 xīn — pungent; spicy

辛 is a component in 9 characters

HSK 4

辣 là spicy; pungent (like ginger, garlic, or chili pepper)

HSK 5

辞 cí wording; diction; elegant language

HSK 7

宰 zǎi to oversee; to preside over 瓣 bàn petal, one of the segments forming a corolla 辜 gū crime; guilt 辟 pì incisive; penetrating; profound 辨 biàn to distinguish; to differentiate

Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)

辩 biàn to debate; to argue about right and wrong or truth and falsehood 辫 biàn braid; plait of hair woven from divided strands

2.2 束 shù — to tie; to bind

束 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 4

辣 là spicy; pungent (like ginger, garlic, or chili pepper) 速 sù fast; swift; rapid

HSK 7

柬 jiǎn general term for letters, cards, and invitations

Stroke order