mǎlù: 马路 - Road, Street, Avenue

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Summary: Discover the meaning of 马路 (mǎlù), the most common Chinese word for “road” or “street.” Literally translating to “horse road,” this term is a fascinating glimpse into China's history, yet it's essential for modern, everyday conversations about traffic, directions, and city life. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural context, and practical usage, contrasting it with similar terms like `街道 (jiēdào)` to help you speak more naturally.

Pinyin (with tone marks): mǎlù

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 2

Concise Definition: A road, street, or avenue, especially the part used by vehicles.

In a Nutshell: 马路 (mǎlù) is your go-to, everyday word for “road.” While its characters mean “horse road,” think of it as the standard, neutral term for any paved surface that cars, buses, and bikes drive on. It's less about the sidewalks or shops and more about the pavement itself. It's the first word a Chinese child learns for “road” and the one you'll hear and use constantly.

马 (mǎ): This character means horse. It's a pictograph, originally drawn to look like a horse standing up, with its mane, legs, and tail visible.

路 (lù): This character means road, path, or way. It's composed of the “foot” radical (足) on the left and a phonetic component (各) on the right. You can think of it as a path (路) that every (各) foot (足) travels on.

Combined Meaning: Together, 马路 (mǎlù) literally means “horse road.” The term dates back to when horses and carriages were the primary forms of transportation on main thoroughfares. Even though cars have long since replaced horses, this historical name has stuck around and is now the standard word for a modern road.

A Linguistic Fossil: The term 马路 (mǎlù) is a perfect example of a “linguistic fossil”—a word that preserves a piece of history. Its continued use reflects the massive societal and technological transition from imperial, horse-powered China to the modern, automobile-centric nation it is today. Saying 马路 is a small, unconscious nod to a bygone era.

Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, we have “road,” “street,” “avenue,” and “boulevard,” each with slight nuances. 马路 is most similar to the general term “road.” It's typically wider than a small alley (`胡同 hūtòng` or `小巷 xiǎoxiàng`) and specifically refers to the asphalt or concrete surface for vehicles. This contrasts with 街道 (jiēdào), which is closer to the English “street” as a complete concept—including the 马路 itself, plus the sidewalks (`人行道 rénxíngdào`), buildings, shops, and general atmosphere. You drive on the 马路, but you stroll down the 街道.

The “Road Killer”: The term's direct association with traffic and driving is cemented in the popular, informal phrase 马路杀手 (mǎlù shāshǒu), which literally means “road killer.” It's a very common and vivid way to describe a terrible, reckless, or incompetent driver, highlighting that a 马路 is the primary stage for the risks and rules of modern traffic.

马路 (mǎlù) is extremely common in spoken, everyday Chinese. It's the default word you would use in most non-technical contexts.

Formality: The term is neutral. It's not overly formal or slang. You can use it with friends, family, and in most service encounters. For official or technical documents about infrastructure, more specific terms like `公路 (gōnglù)` (highway/public road) or `道路 (dàolù)` (road/way) might be used.

街道 (jiēdào): Street (as a social/commercial space, including sidewalks and buildings).

路 (lù): A general term for road, path, or way. 马路 is a specific type of 路.

公路 (gōnglù): Public road, highway. A more formal term, often used for roads connecting cities.

高速公路 (gāosù gōnglù): Expressway, freeway (literally “high-speed public road”).

人行道 (rénxíngdào): Sidewalk, pavement (literally “person-walk-way”). The part of the street that is not the 马路.

路口 (lùkǒu): Intersection, junction.

十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu): Crossroads, a four-way intersection (literally “character 'ten' intersection”).

过马路 (guò mǎlù): A verb phrase meaning “to cross the road.”

马路杀手 (mǎlù shāshǒu): An informal idiom for a “road killer” or a terrible driver.

大道 (dàdào): Avenue, boulevard. A wide, important road, often used in proper names like `长安街 (Cháng'ān Dàjiē)`.