野马 (yě mǎ) — wild horse; Przewalski's horse (a specific enda…

Definition

A 野马 is a wild horse, and specifically refers to Przewalski's horse — a rare endangered species native to the grasslands of Central Asia.

noun

wild horsePrzewalski's horse (a specific endangered wild horse species)(figurative) an uncontrolled or unruly person

Measure word · 匹

野马。
Cǎo yuán shàng yǒu yì qún yě mǎ zài bēn pǎo.
There is a herd of wild horses running on the grassland.
野马，。
yě mǎ Shì bīn wēi wù zhǒng, xū yào bǎo hù.
The Przewalski's horse is an endangered species that needs protection.
野马，。
Tā jiù xiàng yì pǐ yě mǎ, shuí yě guǎn bú zhù.
He is like a wild horse — no one can control him.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

“野” (wild) describes “马” (horse), meaning a horse of the wild, also an unruly person.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

予

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

野 combines 田 (field) above 土 (earth) to show open country, with 予 giving the sound.

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.

Appears in