马 mǎ horse (Kangxi radical 187)
How it came to be
The full form is a horse galloping to the left: the mane standing up along the top, the body, and four legs beneath. Simplified, the legs are one line.
How it is used
- Horse - measure word 匹 (yì pǐ mǎ) one horse.
- Heavily lexicalized: 马上 (mǎshàng) at once/right away (literally 'on horseback'), 马路 (mǎlù) road/street, 马虎 (mǎhu) careless/sloppy - none are about actual horses.
- 黑马 (hēimǎ) = dark horse (a surprise winner); 马力 (mǎlì) horsepower.
- Watch 马虎: the 虎 is toneless here (mǎhu), meaning slapdash.
Characters built with 马
Words with 马
- 马上mǎshàngat onceHSK 3
- 马路mǎlùstreetHSK 3
- 马虎mǎhucarelessHSK 6
- 马力mǎlìhorsepowerHSK 7
- 黑马hēimǎdark horseHSK 7
- 千军万马qiānjūn-wànmǎmagnificent army with thousands of men and horsesHSK 8
- 斑马线bānmǎxiàncrosswalkHSK 8
- 马桶mǎtǒngchamber potHSK 8
- 汗马功劳hànmǎ-gōngláowar exploitsHSK 9
- 马后炮mǎhòupàomoving the cannon after moving the horse awayHSK 9
- 骏马jùnmǎfine horseHSK 9
Example sentences
- 草地上有两匹马。 Cǎodì shàng yǒu liǎng pǐ mǎ.There are two horses in the meadow.
- 马轻松地越过了障碍。 Mǎ qīngsōng de yuèguòle zhàng'ài.The horse easily jumped over the barrier.
- 他正在过马路。 Tā zhèngzài guò mǎlù.He's crossing the road.
- 我们马上就要启程了。 Wǒmen mǎshang jiù yào qǐchéng le.We're leaving in a moment.