Meaning of 马路
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- street
- road
Measure word: 條|条
How to use 马路
马路 is the everyday word for a street or road in a town or city, especially one with traffic. It often appears with verbs like 过 (guò, to cross). Example: 过马路要小心。(Guò mǎlù yào xiǎoxīn.) Be careful when crossing the street.
马路 is made of 马 (mǎ, horse) and 路 (lù, road), so picture a road wide enough for horses and carriages. Today the horses are gone, but the 'horse road' is still the city street.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes read 马路 as having something to do with horses today and avoid it, but it simply means street. Also keep the tones clear: 马 is third tone (mǎ), not first tone like 妈 (mā).
马路 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
马 mǎ · horse · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
路 lù · road · 13 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
Related words
Words that share a character with 马路.
| 马上 | mǎshàng | at once; right away |
| 路上 | lùshang | on the road; on the way; en route |
| 走路 | zǒulù | to walk; to go on foot; to leave; to depart |
| 路口 | lùkǒu | crossing; intersection (of roads) |
| 道路 | dàolù | road; path |
| 公路 | gōnglù | highway; road |
| 路边 | lù biān | curb; roadside; wayside |
| 一路顺风 | yīlù-shùnfēng | to have a pleasant journey (idiom) |
| 一路平安 | yīlù-píng'ān | to have a pleasant journey; Bon voyage! |
| 问路 | wènlù | to ask for directions; to ask the way (to some place) |
| 铁路 | tiělù | railroad; railway |
| 路线 | lùxiàn | itinerary; route |
Questions about 马路
What does 马路 mean?
马路 (mǎlù) means "street; road" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 马路?
马路 is made of 2 characters: 马 (3 strokes), 路 (13 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 马路 an HSK word?
Yes. 马路 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 马路 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 马路 is written 馬路.
What is the difference between 马路 and 公路?
马路 usually means a street in a town or city. 公路 (gōnglù) is a public highway, often one that connects towns and runs through the countryside.
How do you say 'cross the road' in Chinese?
Say 过马路 (guò mǎlù). For example, 我们在路口过马路。(Wǒmen zài lùkǒu guò mǎlù.) We cross the road at the intersection.