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Kotomora

麻

hemp, flax, numb

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • マ
  • マア

Kun'yomi

  • あさ

Nanori

  • あ
  • あざ
  • お

Meaning

麻 centers on the hemp plant and its fibers, used for making linen-like cloth. The sense of numbness likely comes from the tingling sensation associated with hemp or from the texture of coarse hemp fabric.

Most common words using 麻

20 of 193
  • 麻あさ
    N1

    cannabis (Cannabis sativa); hemp (plant)

  • 麻薬まやく
    N1

    narcotic; drug; dope

  • 麻雀マージャン
    N1

    mahjong; mah-jongg

  • 麻酔ますい
    N1

    anaesthesia; anesthesia

  • 麻痺まひ
    N1

    paralysis; palsy; stupor

  • 大麻たいま

    hemp

  • 麻衣あさごろも

    linen robe

  • 胡麻ごま

    sesame seeds

  • 麻姑まこ

    Ma Gu; legendary Taoist immortal with long talon-like fingernails

  • 麻布あさぬの

    hemp cloth; linen

  • 麺麻めんま

    bamboo shoots boiled, sliced, fermented, dried or preserved in salt, then soaked in hot water and sea salt

  • 麻疹はしか

    measles

  • 麻辣マーラー

    mala (spicy and numbing seasoning)

  • 蕁麻疹じんましん
    N1

    hives; nettle rash; urticaria

  • 亜麻あま

    flax (Linum usitatissimum); linseed

  • 胡麻木ごまぎ

    Siebold's arrowwood (Viburnum sieboldii)

  • 亜麻仁あまに

    flaxseed; linseed

  • 麻黄まおう

    mahuang; ephedra

  • 荏胡麻えごま

    wild sesame (Perilla frutescens var. frutescens); oilseed perilla; egoma

  • 麻実おのみ

    hemp seed

Explore all words using 麻 →

Study

Etymology

麻 originally depicted hemp plants hanging under a roof or shelter, combining 广 (building) with 林 (plants), representing the processing of hemp fibers.

Meaning mnemonic

Under a roof 广, two trees 林 are actually hemp plants being dried and processed. The fibers from these plants make linen, and handling the rough fibers can make your hands feel numb.

Reading mnemonic

For マ, imagine a mother (ママ) weaving hemp fibers under the shelter: ママ -> マ, and the hemp cloth takes shape.