鞍马 (ān mǎ) — pommel horse (gymnastics apparatus); saddle and horse (as a pair of items)

Definition

In modern usage, 鞍马 (ānmǎ) names the men's gymnastics pommel horse — pronounced as one word. The literal sense 'saddle and horse' is a historical or literary pair referring to travel gear.

noun
pommel horse (gymnastics apparatus)saddle and horse (as a pair of items)
Measure word · 架

Examples

  • 鞍马。
    Tā zài ān mǎ shàng zuò le jǐ gè gāo nán dù de dòng zuò.
    He performed several difficult moves on the pommel horse.
  • 鞍马。
    ān mǎ Shì nán zǐ tǐ cāo xiàng mù zhī yī.
    The pommel horse is one of the men's gymnastics events.
  • 鞍马。
    Gǔ dài lǚ xíng cháng bèi ān mǎ.
    In ancient times, travelers often prepared a saddle and horse.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

鞍ānsaddle
马mǎhorse

鞍 is a saddle and 马 is a horse; the pair names riding equipment, later the pommel horse.

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.

In 鞍, the left side 革 is leather; the right side 安 gives the sound ān.

Open 鞍 →

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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