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马脚 (mǎ jiǎ) — a slip or clue that gives away a secret; something that reveals the truth

Definition

Used only in the set phrase 露出马脚 / 露马脚 — a small slip that exposes a hidden truth or scheme. Literally 'horse's foot', it refers to a flaw that shouldn't be visible.

noun
a slip or clue that gives away a secretsomething that reveals the truth

Examples

  • 马脚。
    Tā shuō huà shí bù xiǎo xīn lù chū le mǎ jiǎ.
    He accidentally let the cat out of the bag while talking.
  • 马脚。
    Tā men de jì huà yīn wèi yí gè mǎ jiǎ ér shī bài le.
    Their plan failed because of a slip that gave them away.
  • ，马脚。
    Tā yǐ wéi zuò dé tiān yī wú fèng, dàn hái shì liú xià le mǎ jiǎ.
    She thought she had covered all traces, but she still left a clue behind.

Origin

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.

马mǎhorse
脚jiǎofoot

“马” and “脚” literally form a horse's foot, used for a slip that reveals something.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body
Sound part声符shēngfú
卻
卻què腳jiǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Open 脚 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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