Chinese words pronounced ma (any tone) 14 words, in the 5 tones ma is read in. mā (1st tone) 2 words 妈(mā) ma 抹(mā) to wipe 媽(mā) ma 抹(mā) to wipe má (2nd tone) 5 words 吗(má) what? 么(má) exclamatory final particle 嘛(má) (coll.) what? 麻(má) hemp 蟆(má) toad 嗎(má) what? 麼(má) exclamatory final particle 嘛(má) (coll.) what? 蔴(má) hemp 蟆(má) toad mǎ (3rd tone) 4 words 马(mǎ) horse 码(mǎ) agate 㐷(mǎ) horse 溤(mǎ) name of a river 馬(mǎ) horse 碼(mǎ) agate 傌(mǎ) horse 溤(mǎ) name of a river mà (4th tone) 3 words 骂(mà) to scold 杩(mà) headboard 祃(mà) religious ritual on setting out for war 罵(mà) to scold 榪(mà) headboard 禡(mà) religious ritual on setting out for war ma (neutral tone) 3 words 吗(ma) (question particle for "yes-no" questions) 么(ma) interrogative final particle 嘛(ma) modal particle indicating that sth is obvious 嗎(ma) (question particle for "yes-no" questions) 麼(ma) interrogative final particle 嘛(ma) modal particle indicating that sth is obvious