马路

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马路 [2025/08/11 11:54] – created xiaoer马路 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== mǎlù: 马路 - Road, Street, Avenue ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** malu, ma lu, 马路, mǎlù, Chinese for road, Chinese for street, what does malu mean, malu vs jiedao, ma lu pinyin, crossing the road in Chinese, street in Mandarin +
-  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **马路 (mǎlù)**, the most common Chinese word for "road" or "street." Literally translating to "horse road," this term is a fascinating glimpse into China's history, yet it's essential for modern, everyday conversations about traffic, directions, and city life. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural context, and practical usage, contrasting it with similar terms like `街道 (jiēdào)` to help you speak more naturally. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** mǎlù +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 2 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** A road, street, or avenue, especially the part used by vehicles. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **马路 (mǎlù)** is your go-to, everyday word for "road." While its characters mean "horse road," think of it as the standard, neutral term for any paved surface that cars, buses, and bikes drive on. It's less about the sidewalks or shops and more about the pavement itself. It's the first word a Chinese child learns for "road" and the one you'll hear and use constantly. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **马 (mǎ):** This character means **horse**. It's a pictograph, originally drawn to look like a horse standing up, with its mane, legs, and tail visible. +
-  * **路 (lù):** This character means **road, path, or way**. It's composed of the "foot" radical (足) on the left and a phonetic component (各) on the right. You can think of it as a path (路) that every (各) foot (足) travels on. +
-  * **Combined Meaning:** Together, **马路 (mǎlù)** literally means "horse road." The term dates back to when horses and carriages were the primary forms of transportation on main thoroughfares. Even though cars have long since replaced horses, this historical name has stuck around and is now the standard word for a modern road. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-  * **A Linguistic Fossil:** The term **马路 (mǎlù)** is a perfect example of a "linguistic fossil"—a word that preserves a piece of history. Its continued use reflects the massive societal and technological transition from imperial, horse-powered China to the modern, automobile-centric nation it is today. Saying **马路** is a small, unconscious nod to a bygone era. +
-  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** In English, we have "road," "street," "avenue," and "boulevard," each with slight nuances. **马路** is most similar to the general term "road." It's typically wider than a small alley (`胡同 hūtòng` or `小巷 xiǎoxiàng`) and specifically refers to the asphalt or concrete surface for vehicles. This contrasts with **街道 (jiēdào)**, which is closer to the English "street" as a complete concept—including the **马路** itself, plus the sidewalks (`人行道 rénxíngdào`), buildings, shops, and general atmosphere. You drive on the **马路**, but you stroll down the **街道**. +
-  * **The "Road Killer":** The term's direct association with traffic and driving is cemented in the popular, informal phrase **马路杀手 (mǎlù shāshǒu)**, which literally means "road killer." It's a very common and vivid way to describe a terrible, reckless, or incompetent driver, highlighting that a **马路** is the primary stage for the risks and rules of modern traffic. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-  * **马路 (mǎlù)** is extremely common in spoken, everyday Chinese. It's the default word you would use in most non-technical contexts. +
-  * **Giving and Asking for Directions:** It's fundamental for navigation. You cross it, walk along it, and look for landmarks next to it. +
-    * Example: "The bank is on the other side of the road." (银行就在**马路**对面。) +
-  * **Talking About Traffic:** When discussing traffic conditions, **马路** is the word you'll use to refer to the road itself. +
-    * Example: "There's a lot of traffic on the road today." (今天**马路**上车很多。) +
-  * **Warnings and Safety:** It's used in safety warnings, especially for children. +
-    * Example: "Be careful when crossing the road." (过**马路**要小心。) +
-  * **Formality:** The term is neutral. It's not overly formal or slang. You can use it with friends, family, and in most service encounters. For official or technical documents about infrastructure, more specific terms like `公路 (gōnglù)` (highway/public road) or `道路 (dàolù)` (road/way) might be used. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 过**马路**的时候，一定要看两边。 +
-    * Pinyin: Guò **mǎlù** de shíhou, yídìng yào kàn liǎngbiān. +
-    * English: When crossing the road, you must look both ways. +
-    * Analysis: This is a classic safety instruction. `过马路 (guò mǎlù)` is a set phrase meaning "to cross the road." +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 这条**马路**很宽，有六个车道。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè tiáo **mǎlù** hěn kuān, yǒu liù ge chēdào. +
-    * English: This road is very wide; it has six lanes. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **马路** refers to the entire physical road. The measure word for long, thin things like roads is `条 (tiáo)`. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 孩子们，不要在**马路**上踢球，太危险了！ +
-    * Pinyin: Háizi men, búyào zài **mǎlù** shàng tī qiú, tài wēixiǎn le! +
-    * English: Kids, don't play soccer on the road, it's too dangerous! +
-    * Analysis: This demonstrates **马路** as the specific place where cars are, making it an unsafe area for playing. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 我家就在**马路**对面，你马上就能看到。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ jiā jiù zài **mǎlù** duìmiàn, nǐ mǎshàng jiù néng kàndào. +
-    * English: My house is just across the road, you'll see it right away. +
-    * Analysis: `在马路对面 (zài mǎlù duìmiàn)` is a very common phrase for giving a location relative to a road. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 因为修路，这条**马路**被封了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Yīnwèi xiū lù, zhè tiáo **mǎlù** bèi fēng le. +
-    * English: Because of construction, this road has been closed off. +
-    * Analysis: This shows **马路** being the object of an action (`被封了` - has been closed). `修路 (xiū lù)` means "to repair a road." +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 他开车技术很差，是个有名的**马路**杀手。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā kāichē jìshù hěn chà, shì ge yǒumíng de **mǎlù** shāshǒu. +
-    * English: His driving skills are terrible; he's a famous "road killer" (reckless driver). +
-    * Analysis: This uses the popular idiom `马路杀手 (mǎlù shāshǒu)`, which is informal and slightly humorous but critical. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 清洁工正在打扫**马路**上的落叶。 +
-    * Pinyin: Qīngjié gōng zhèngzài dǎsǎo **mǎlù** shàng de luòyè. +
-    * English: The sanitation worker is sweeping fallen leaves on the road. +
-    * Analysis: `马路上 (mǎlù shàng)` means "on the road" and specifies the surface being cleaned. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 你沿着这条**马路**一直走，第三个路口右转。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ yánzhe zhè tiáo **mǎlù** yìzhí zǒu, dì sān ge lùkǒu yòu zhuǎn. +
-    * English: Follow this road straight ahead, and turn right at the third intersection. +
-    * Analysis: A perfect example of how **马路** is used in giving directions. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 晚上的**马路**比白天安静多了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǎnshang de **mǎlù** bǐ báitiān ānjìng duō le. +
-    * English: The road at night is much quieter than in the daytime. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses **马路** to refer to the general ambiance and sound level of a road at different times. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 我不喜欢住在**马路**边，因为汽车的声音太吵了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ bù xǐhuān zhù zài **mǎlù** biān, yīnwèi qìchē de shēngyīn tài chǎo le. +
-    * English: I don't like living by the side of the road because the sound of cars is too noisy. +
-    * Analysis: `马路边 (mǎlù biān)` means "roadside" and is a common way to describe a location. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **马路 (mǎlù) vs. 街道 (jiēdào):** This is the most common point of confusion. +
-    * **马路 (mǎlù):** The physical pavement for vehicles. You drive on the `马路`. +
-    * **街道 (jiēdào):** The entire street scene—the `马路` plus sidewalks, shops, trees, and the community atmosphere. You go shopping on a `街道`. +
-    * **Example:** The `王府井大街 (Wángfǔjǐng Dàjiē)` is a famous shopping **street (街道)**. The part where cars (or in that case, trams) drive is the **road (马路)**. +
-  * **马路 (mǎlù) vs. 路 (lù):** `路 (lù)` is a much broader and more abstract term. +
-    * **马路 (mǎlù):** A physical, concrete road for traffic. +
-    * **路 (lù):** Can mean "road," but also "path," "way," "route," or a "course of action." +
-    * **Incorrect Usage:** ~~我找到了解决问题的**马路**。~~ (Wǒ zhǎodào le jiějué wèntí de mǎlù.) - *I found the physical road to solve the problem.* +
-    * **Correct Usage:** 我找到了解决问题的**路**。 (Wǒ zhǎodào le jiějué wèntí de lù.) - *I found the way/path to solve the problem.* +
-    * **Rule of thumb:** If you can't physically drive a car on it, it's probably not a **马路**. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * **[[街道]] (jiēdào):** Street (as a social/commercial space, including sidewalks and buildings). +
-  * **[[路]] (lù):** A general term for road, path, or way. **马路** is a specific type of **路**. +
-  * **[[公路]] (gōnglù):** Public road, highway. A more formal term, often used for roads connecting cities. +
-  * **[[高速公路]] (gāosù gōnglù):** Expressway, freeway (literally "high-speed public road"). +
-  * **[[人行道]] (rénxíngdào):** Sidewalk, pavement (literally "person-walk-way"). The part of the street that is //not// the **马路**. +
-  * **[[路口]] (lùkǒu):** Intersection, junction. +
-  * **[[十字路口]] (shízì lùkǒu):** Crossroads, a four-way intersection (literally "character 'ten' intersection"). +
-  * **[[过马路]] (guò mǎlù):** A verb phrase meaning "to cross the road." +
-  * **[[马路杀手]] (mǎlù shāshǒu):** An informal idiom for a "road killer" or a terrible driver. +
-  * **[[大道]] (dàdào):** Avenue, boulevard. A wide, important road, often used in proper names like `长安街 (Cháng'ān Dàjiē)`.+