立马 (lì mǎ) — (verb-object) to rein in a horse; to stop a horse

Definition

Literally "to rein in a horse," but in modern Chinese 立马 is used as a colloquial adverb meaning "right away, immediately" — stronger and more emphatic than 立刻.

verb
(verb-object) to rein in a horseto stop a horse
Easily confused

Examples

  • 立马。
    Tā lì mǎ zài lù biān.
    He stopped his horse by the roadside.
  • ，。
    Qí shǒu lì le mǎ, cóng mǎ shàng tiào xià lái.
    The rider reined in his horse and jumped off.
  • ，。
    Tā lì le yí cì mǎ, rán hòu jì xù qián jìn.
    He stopped the horse once, then continued.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

立lìstand
马mǎhorse

立 stand + 马 horse: make a horse stand, i.e. stop it.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

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