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马力 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
马力mǎlìhorsepowerHSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, rank #11558, Very Hard
mǎlì(ma3li4)ma li T3
  1. 1horsepower
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March 24, 2026

马力(馬力)mǎlì(ma3li4)

马力 (mǎlì) refers to 'horsepower,' a unit of measurement for power, commonly used in the context of engines and machinery. It measures the rate at which work is done and is often used to describe the power output of vehicles. This term is prevalent in automotive discussions and engineering contexts.

Strokes5Frequency#11558DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In China, the concept of horsepower is particularly significant in discussions about car performance and competition, reflecting the growing automotive culture and consumer interest in high-performance vehicles.

Memory Tip

Think of a horse (马) galloping with great strength, powering a carriage. The character 力 (lì) means 'force' or 'power,' so together 马力 evokes the image of a strong horse providing powerful energy, making it easy to remember that it refers to horsepower.

Meanings of 马力

mǎlì(ma3li4)
1horsepower
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About 马力

马力Simplified
馬力Traditional
5Strokes
—Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 马力

Usage Notes

When using 马力, ensure you are discussing power in a technical context, as it may not be understood in casual conversation. Common collocations include '发动机马力' (engine horsepower) or '汽车马力' (car horsepower). Be cautious with pronunciation to avoid confusion between the third and fourth tones.

HSK Study Tips

马力 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects to terms related to vehicles and power measurements which may appear in HSK level 4 or 5. Focus on understanding how it pairs with other technical terms to enhance comprehension in automotive contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 马力 with 力 (lì) alone, using it in non-technical contexts incorrectly. For example, saying '我喜欢马力的感觉' (I like the feeling of horsepower) is awkward; it should be used specifically in relation to vehicles or engines.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 马力

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Component Characters

马mǎhorse
HSK 33 strokes马
View full entry
力lìpower
HSK 52 strokes力
View full entry

How to say horsepower in Chinese

“horsepower” in Chinese is马力mǎlì

马力 (mǎlì) refers to 'horsepower,' a unit of measurement for power, commonly used in the context of engines and machinery. It measures the rate at which work is done and is often used to describe the power output of vehicles. This term is prevalent in automotive discussions and engineering contexts.

When to use 马力

When using 马力, ensure you are discussing power in a technical context, as it may not be understood in casual conversation. Common collocations include '发动机马力' (engine horsepower) or '汽车马力' (car horsepower). Be cautious with pronunciation to avoid confusion between the third and fourth tones.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 马力 with 力 (lì) alone, using it in non-technical contexts incorrectly. For example, saying '我喜欢马力的感觉' (I like the feeling of horsepower) is awkward; it should be used specifically in relation to vehicles or engines.

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马
力

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Frequently Asked Questions about 马力

马力 measures the power output of engines and machinery, indicating how much work can be done in a given time.

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