noun HSK 2
Traditional 馬
horse
Meaning
马 is the common word for horse in Mandarin Chinese. It's one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and has been central to Chinese culture and transportation for thousands of years. The character itself is a pictograph that originally depicted a horse with a mane, four legs, and a tail.
Usage
马 appears in many compound words and idioms related to horses, speed, and power. It's used both literally for the animal and figuratively in expressions. Native speakers commonly use it in phrases like 马上 (immediately, literally 'on horseback') and in the context of zodiac years.
Examples
- 01我小时候学过骑马。.I learned to ride horses when I was little.
- 02他属马，今年是他的本命年。, .He was born in the Year of the Horse; this year is his zodiac year.
Measure words
- 匹三匹马
- 只一只马
Common collocations
- 一匹马one horse (with classifier)
- 马车horse carriage
- 马年Year of the Horse
- 马力horsepower
Origin
The traditional form 馬 is a pictograph showing a horse with flowing mane, four legs, and tail. The simplified form 马 retains the basic outline but with fewer strokes.