Definition
码 (mǎ) is a classifier for length, meaning 'yard' (0.9144 meters). Do not confuse it with 厂 (chǎng) or 院子 (yuàn zi), which mean 'yard' as a physical area. It also functions as a noun meaning 'code' (e.g., 号码 hàomǎ) and as a verb meaning 'to stack', similar to 堆 (duī) but often used for orderly stacking.
classifier
yard (unit of length)
noun
codenumber (in compounds)
verb
to pile upto stack
Easily confused
- 矿kuànglook-alikemine (a place where minerals are extracted)
- 吗masound-alike(question particle) used to form yes-no questions
- 嘛masound-alike(modal particle) marks a statement as obvious or self-evident, used in explanations and gentle suggestions
- 马mǎsound-alikehorse
- 骂màsound-aliketo scold, to curse, to abuse
- 麻másound-alikenumb, tingling (from lack of circulation or spicy food)
- 麻másound-alikehemp, flax (plant or fiber)
Examples
- 码。Wǒ xūyào mǎi sān mǎ bù lái zuò chuānglián.I need to buy three yards of cloth to make curtains.
- 138。Tā de shǒujī hàomǎ shì yī sān bā kāitóu de.His phone number starts with 138.
- 码。Tā bǎ xiāngzi dōu mǎ le qǐlai.She stacked all the boxes up.
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