====== mà: 骂 - To Scold, Curse, Swear ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 骂, ma, mà, scold in Chinese, curse in Chinese, swear in Chinese, Chinese verb for scolding, how to say tell off in Chinese, angry Chinese words, 骂人, Chinese arguments
  * **Summary:** Learn the powerful Chinese verb **骂 (mà)**, which means to scold, curse, or swear at someone. This DokuWiki entry covers its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in daily conversation. Understand the difference between scolding (**骂**) and criticizing (**批评**) to avoid common mistakes and navigate heated situations in Mandarin Chinese.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** mà
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To verbally abuse, scold, curse, or tell someone off.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **骂 (mà)** is the essential verb in Chinese for expressing direct, verbal anger. It's not just "to criticize"; it's a strong, emotional, and often loud action. Think of a parent dressing down a child, a boss losing their temper, or two people in a heated argument shouting at each other. The feeling of **骂** is one of confrontation and a loss of composure.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **骂 (mà):**
  * **口 (kǒu):** The "mouth" radical on the left. This component immediately tells you the character is related to speaking, shouting, or other oral actions.
  * **马 (mǎ):** The character for "horse" on the right. In this context, it primarily serves as the phonetic component, as the pronunciation of **mǎ** (horse) is very similar to **mà** (to scold).
  * **Combined Meaning:** A simple way to remember **骂** is to think of someone using their **mouth (口)** to shout angrily, perhaps as loudly as a neighing **horse (马)**. The character vividly combines the action (speaking) with a sound component.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, where social harmony (和谐, héxié) and preserving "face" (面子, miànzi) are highly valued, the act of **骂 (mà)** is particularly significant. To **骂** someone, especially in public, is a direct and aggressive act that shatters harmony and causes a major loss of face for both the person being scolded and, to some extent, the person doing the scolding (as it shows a lack of self-control).
  * **Comparison to Western Culture:** While "telling someone off" or "chewing someone out" in English is certainly unpleasant, the cultural impact in China can be much deeper. In the West, it might be seen as a direct, if harsh, way of airing a grievance. In China, a public **骂** can damage relationships more severely because it violates the unspoken rules of giving face. However, within certain hierarchical relationships (like a parent to a child or a traditional boss to a subordinate), **骂** can be seen as a form of harsh discipline, albeit one that is increasingly viewed as old-fashioned.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**骂** is a common word used to describe real-life conflict and anger.
  * **In Arguments:** It's the standard verb for describing a verbal fight. If you see two people shouting at each other, you would say "他们在互相骂" (Tāmen zài hùxiāng mà) - "They are scolding each other."
  * **Discipline and Reprimand:** A parent might **骂** a child for getting bad grades, or a boss might **骂** an employee for a major mistake. This usage implies extreme displeasure.
  * **Online:** The internet has given rise to the term **骂战 (màzhàn)**, which literally means "scolding war" and is the perfect equivalent of an online "flame war."
  * **Connotation:** The connotation of **骂** is almost exclusively negative and informal. It implies raw anger and a breakdown of polite communication.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
  * 他在**骂**我。
  * Pinyin: Tā zài **mà** wǒ.
  * English: He is scolding me.
  * Analysis: A simple, direct sentence showing the basic structure: Subject + **骂** + Object. The use of 在 (zài) indicates the action is in progress.
  * **Example 2:**
  * 老师因为我迟到而**骂**了我。
  * Pinyin: Lǎoshī yīnwèi wǒ chídào ér **mà** le wǒ.
  * English: The teacher scolded me for being late.
  * Analysis: This example gives a reason for the scolding using the "因为...而..." (yīnwèi...ér...) structure, meaning "because of...therefore...".
  * **Example 3:**
  * 你为什么**骂**人？
  * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme **mà**rén?
  * English: Why are you cursing at people?
  * Analysis: **骂人 (màrén)** is a very common verb-object phrase that means "to scold/curse people." It's used as a general term for this kind of aggressive verbal behavior.
  * **Example 4:**
  * 我昨天被老板**骂**了一顿。
  * Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān bèi lǎobǎn **mà** le yí dùn.
  * English: I was told off by my boss yesterday.
  * Analysis: This sentence uses the passive voice marker 被 (bèi) to show that the subject "I" received the action. The measure word 顿 (dùn) is often used after **骂** to quantify the "bout" or "session" of scolding.
  * **Example 5:**
  * 他们俩在街上互相**骂**了起来。
  * Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ zài jiē shàng hùxiāng **mà** le qǐlái.
  * English: The two of them started cursing at each other on the street.
  * Analysis: 互相 (hùxiāng) means "mutually" or "each other." The directional complement 起来 (qǐlái) indicates the beginning and continuation of the action.
  * **Example 6:**
  * 公开**骂**他会让他很没面子。
  * Pinyin: Gōngkāi **mà** tā huì ràng tā hěn méi miànzi.
  * English: Scolding him in public will make him lose a lot of face.
  * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the cultural context of **骂** and its connection to the concept of 面子 (miànzi), or "face."
  * **Example 7:**
  * 别在网上跟人**骂**战，没意思。
  * Pinyin: Bié zài wǎngshàng gēn rén **mà**zhàn, méi yìsi.
  * English: Don't get into flame wars with people online, it's pointless.
  * Analysis: Here, **骂** is part of the compound noun **骂战 (màzhàn)**, or "flame war," a very modern usage.
  * **Example 8:**
  * 他气得不停地**骂**脏话。
  * Pinyin: Tā qì de bù tíng de **mà** zānghuà.
  * English: He was so angry he couldn't stop swearing.
  * Analysis: This shows **骂** used with an object, 脏话 (zānghuà), which means "profanity" or "swear words." So, **骂脏话** means "to curse" or "to use foul language."
  * **Example 9:**
  * 妈妈只是**骂**了你几句，别哭了。
  * Pinyin: Māmā zhǐshì **mà** le nǐ jǐ jù, bié kū le.
  * English: Mom just said a few harsh words to you, don't cry.
  * Analysis: The phrase 骂了几句 (mà le jǐ jù) literally means "scolded a few sentences" and is a way to downplay the severity, suggesting it was a brief telling-off rather than a long tirade.
  * **Example 10:**
  * 被人**骂**的滋味真不好受。
  * Pinyin: Bèi rén **mà** de zīwèi zhēn bù hǎoshòu.
  * English: The feeling of being scolded by someone is really awful.
  * Analysis: This sentence uses **骂** as part of a descriptive phrase. The structure "被 + Verb + 的 + Noun" means "the noun of being verbed." Here, 滋味 (zīwèi) means "taste" or "feeling."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **骂 (mà) vs. 批评 (pīpíng):** This is the most critical distinction for a learner.
  * **骂 (mà)** is emotional, aggressive, and personal. It's about venting anger.
  * **批评 (pīpíng)** means "to criticize." It is more formal, objective, and ideally constructive. A teacher gives a student `批评` on their essay. A boss gives an employee `批评` during a performance review.
  * **Mistake Example:**
    * **Incorrect:** 我的汉语老师**骂**了我的发音。 (Wǒ de Hànyǔ lǎoshī **mà** le wǒ de fāyīn.)
    * **Why it's wrong:** This sentence implies your teacher flew into a rage and verbally abused you over your pronunciation. This would be highly unusual and unprofessional.
    * **Correct:** 我的汉语老师**批评**了我的发音。 (Wǒ de Hànyǔ lǎoshī **pīpíng** le wǒ de fāyīn.) - "My Chinese teacher criticized my pronunciation." This is neutral and appropriate.
  * **骂 (mà) vs. 抱怨 (bàoyuàn):**
  * **骂 (mà)** is a direct attack **at** someone.
  * **抱怨 (bàoyuàn)** means "to complain" or "to grumble," which is usually done **about** a situation or person, often not to their face. You might `抱怨` about the weather, but you would `骂` a driver who cut you off.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[吵架]] (chǎojià) - To quarrel, to argue. A state that almost always involves two or more people **骂**ing each other.
  * [[批评]] (pīpíng) - To criticize. The more formal, objective, and less emotional counterpart to **骂**.
  * [[指责]] (zhǐzé) - To accuse, to blame, to censure. More formal than **骂** and focuses on assigning fault for a wrongdoing.
  * [[发火]] (fāhuǒ) - To get angry, to lose one's temper. This is the internal emotion that often leads to the external action of **骂**.
  * [[脏话]] (zānghuà) - Swear words, profanity. The specific vocabulary one might use when they **骂** someone.
  * [[面子]] (miànzi) - "Face," social prestige. The cultural currency that is lost when one is publicly **骂**ed.
  * [[骂人]] (màrén) - A common verb-object phrase meaning "to scold/curse people."
  * [[骂街]] (màjiē) - Literally "to curse on the street"; used to describe someone making a loud, vulgar, and very public scene.
  * [[打骂]] (dǎmà) - "To beat and scold." A compound word that describes physical and verbal abuse, often in the context of domestic violence or harsh discipline.