maa5 lik6馬力马力
Jyutpingmaa5 lik6
Yalemáh lihk
Definition
Horsepower; a unit used to measure the power of an engine in vehicles or appliances.
neutraltransporttechnology
How it's used
Used primarily when discussing the mechanical power of engines or motors, this term is almost always paired with the classifier 匹. While it is a technical measurement, it appears frequently in casual conversation regarding vehicle performance or household appliances like air conditioners. It is rarely used metaphorically to describe human effort or strength, unlike in some other languages.
Measure word
pat1匹pātExamples
This sports car has a lot of horsepower; it shoots forward as soon as you hit the gas.
Do you know how many horsepower this air conditioner has?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the classifier 匹 with 個. Always use 匹 when quantifying horsepower, such as 一匹馬力 or 兩匹馬力.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
