maa5 lou6馬路马路

Jyutpingmaa5 lou6

Yalemáh louh

名詞Common

Definition

Road or street for vehicle traffic.

colloquialtransportplaces

How it's used

Refers specifically to roads designed for motor vehicles rather than pedestrian walkways or narrow alleys. While the literal meaning involves horses, it is now the standard term for any public street or thoroughfare where traffic flows. It is almost always paired with the verb 過 when talking about crossing from one side to the other.

Measure word

tiu4條tìuh

Examples

gwo3過maa5馬lou6路gei3記dak1得jiu3要tai2睇cing1清co2楚ce1車aa4呀。

Remember to look carefully for cars when crossing the road.

ni1呢tiu4條maa5馬lou6路hou2好fut3闊，gwo3過go2嗰zan6陣jiu3要siu2小sam1心。

This road is very wide, be careful when you cross it.

Common phrases

gwo3過maa5馬lou6路

to cross the road

maa5馬lou6路bin1邊

roadside

Common mistake

Do not use this word for small paths or sidewalks, which are better described as 路 or 行人路. Using it for a narrow alleyway sounds unnatural to native speakers.