鐵馬

Chinese

Wikipedia has articles on:

• 鐵馬 (Written Standard Chinese^?)
• thih-bé (Southern Min)

Pronunciation

Noun

鐵馬

1. (literary) armoured warhorse (Classifier: 匹 m)

   • 弘舸連軸，巨檻接艫，鐵馬千群，朱旗萬里。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     弘舸连轴，巨槛接舻，铁马千群，朱旗万里。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: Southern dynasties, 陸倕, s:石闕銘, in 《文選》

     Hónggě lián zhóu, jùkǎn jiē lú, tiěmǎ qiān qún, zhūqí wàn lǐ.

     Large ships come one after another, and huge vessels are joined bow after bow; ironclad horses come as a thousand herds, and red flags extend for a myriad miles.

   • 將軍馳鐵馬，少傅步銅駝。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     将军驰铁马，少傅步铜驼。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Tang dynasty, 白居易, s:和東川楊慕巢尚書府中獨坐感戚在懷見寄十四韻

     Jiāngjūn chí tiěmǎ, shàofù bù tóngtuó.

     The general gallops on the ironclad horse, and the junior tutor travels on the bronze camel.

2. (literary, figurative) valiant cavalry

   • 鐵馬蒙氈，銀花灑淚，春入愁城。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     铁马蒙毡，银花洒泪，春入愁城。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: Song dynasty, 劉辰翁, 《柳梢青·春感》

     Tiěmǎ Měng zhān, yínhuā sǎlèi, chūn rù chóuchéng.

     The calvary Mongolian felt, the silver flower lanterns are shedding tears, entering this sorrowful city in the spring.

3. metal chimes hanging from eaves

   • 畫檐前叮噹鐵馬，敲碎思婦情懷；銀臺上閃爍燈光，偏照佳人長嘆。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     画檐前叮当铁马，敲碎思妇情怀；银台上闪烁灯光，偏照佳人长叹。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Plum in the Golden Vase, circa 1610 CE

     Huàyán qián dīngdāng tiěmǎ, qiāosuì sīfù qínghuái; yíntái shàng shǎnshuò dēngguāng, piānzhào jiārén chángtàn.

     The jingling chimes in front of the decorated eaves shatters the feelings of the anxious lady; the flickering light on the silver candle holder shines particularly on the beauty who heaves a long sigh.

   • 檐牙底鐵馬和樹上底夜啼鳥，這幾種聲音直像強盜一樣。 [MSC, trad.]
     檐牙底铁马和树上底夜啼鸟，这几种声音直像强盗一样。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1925, 許地山, 《黃昏後》

     Yányá dǐ tiěmǎ hé shù shàng dǐ yètíniǎo, zhè jǐ zhǒng shēngyīn zhí xiàng qiángdào yīyàng.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

4. (chiefly Taiwan, Malaysia, dated in Xiamen and Quanzhou Hokkien) bicycle (Classifier: 臺／台 m mn; 部 m; 匹 m)

   • 我沒想到自己的小念頭原來還是這麼偉大的決策，媽沒有別的話可說了，我十分順利的得著一匹鐵馬。第一天騎上街，便遇著一群白鵝。我們互相躲讓，卻不幸都不會成功；於是我的車輪直上鵝背，好在我身輕如燕，也幸虧牠步履穩健，我們彼此都算平安。 [Taiwanese Mandarin, trad.]
     我没想到自己的小念头原来还是这么伟大的决策，妈没有别的话可说了，我十分顺利的得着一匹铁马。第一天骑上街，便遇着一群白鹅。我们互相躲让，却不幸都不会成功；于是我的车轮直上鹅背，好在我身轻如燕，也幸亏它步履稳健，我们彼此都算平安。 [Taiwanese Mandarin, simp.]

     From: 1991, 華嚴, 《蒂蒂日記》, Taipei: 躍昇文化出版, →ISBN, page 43

     Wǒ méi xiǎngdào zìjǐ de xiǎo niàntou yuánlái háishì zhème wěidà de juécè, mā méiyǒu biéde huà kě shuō le, wǒ shífēn shùnlì de dézháo yī pī tiěmǎ. Dìyī tiān qí shàng jiē, biàn yùzhe yī qún bái'é. Wǒmen hùxiàng duǒràng, què bùxìng dōu bùhuì chénggōng; yúshì wǒ de chēlún zhí shàng é bèi, hǎozài wǒ shēnqīngrúyàn, yě xìngkuī tā bùlǚ wěnjiàn, wǒmen bǐcǐ dōu suàn píng'ān.

     I didn't think that my little thought was actually such a great decision. Mom couldn't say anything else, and I very successfully got a bike. On the first day I rode it onto the streets, I was met with a gaggle of white geese. We were making way for each other, but unfortunately, it would not succeed; thus, my wheels rolled straight onto a goose's back. Luckily I was nimble as a swallow and it was steady in its steps, so we were both more or less safe.

   • 這屏彼屏迺來迺去　一路輕鬆心情　騎鐵馬旅行 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
     这屏彼屏迺来迺去　一路轻松心情　骑铁马旅行 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

     From: 2008, 黃介文 (lyrics), 李富興 (music), 騎鐵馬 , performed by 詹雅雯 and 詹雅云

     Chit pêng hit pêng se̍h-lâi se̍h-khì, chi̍t-lō͘ khin-sang sim-chêng, khiâ thih-bé lí-hêng [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

     Going around here and there, feeling relaxed on the road, let's travel on a bike.

   • 那年我入學你騎着借來的鐵馬 [Malaysian Mandarin, trad.]
     那年我入学你骑着借来的铁马 [Malaysian Mandarin, simp.]

     From: 2019, 黄俊田 (lyrics and music), 水牛爸爸, performed by 鄭颩壕

     nà nián wǒ rùxué nǐ qízhe jièlái de tiěmǎ

     That year when I started school, you were riding on a bike that you borrowed

   • 鐵馬騎來慢慢尞 [Dabu Hakka, trad.]
     铁马骑来慢慢尞 [Dabu Hakka, simp.]

     From: 2022, 黃鎮炘 (lyrics and music), 來尞東勢, performed by 黃鎮炘

     tied^ ma⁺ kiˇ loiˇ man` man` liau` [Taiwanese Hakka Romanization System]

     Ride on a bike and come to slowly have fun

5. (chiefly Cantonese) mills barrier; crowd control barrier (Classifier: 個／个 c)

   • 後來防暴警隊用鐵馬及防暴水車將遊行隊伍隔開一群一群，強行終止遊行。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     后来防暴警队用铁马及防暴水车将游行队伍隔开一群一群，强行终止游行。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2007 May 2, 安琦, 澳門反貪遊行 警方武力鎮壓, in 大紀元時報 (Epoch Times)

     hau⁶ loi⁴ fong⁴ bou⁶ ging² deoi^6-2 jung⁶ tit³ maa⁵ kap⁶ fong⁴ bou⁶ seoi² ce¹ zoeng¹ jau⁴ hang⁴ deoi⁶ ng⁵ gaak³ hoi¹ jat¹ kwan⁴ jat¹ kwan⁴, koeng⁵ hang⁴ zung¹ zi² jau⁴ hang⁴.

     Later, the riot police used mills barriers and water cannon anti-riot vehicles to separate the demonstrators into smaller groups, forcing the demonstration to end.

   • 示威者為闖入大樓，破壞大樓的保安設施，強行拉走架於大樓外示威區的鐵馬，又以竹竿試圖撬開大門。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     示威者为闯入大楼，破坏大楼的保安设施，强行拉走架于大楼外示威区的铁马，又以竹竿试图撬开大门。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2014 June 18, 立法會急切質詢二題：協助立法會應對嚴重保安問題或緊急情況 (LC Urgent Q2: Render assistance to LegCo in its response to serious security problems or emergencies)

     si⁶ wai¹ ze² wai⁶ cong² jap⁶ daai⁶ lau⁴, po³ waai⁶ daai⁶ lau⁴ dik¹ bou² on¹ cit³ si¹, koeng⁵ hang⁴ laai¹ zau² gaa³ jyu¹ daai⁶ lau⁴ ngoi⁶ si⁶ wai¹ keoi¹ dik¹ tit³ maa⁵, jau⁶ ji⁵ zuk¹ gon¹ si³ tou⁴ giu⁶ hoi¹ daai⁶ mun⁴.

     In an attempt to force their way into the Complex, the protesters damaged the security facilities of the Complex, forcibly pulled away the mills barriers placed in the demonstration area outside the Complex, and tried to pry open the doors with bamboo poles.

6. (Hong Kong) police motorbike (Classifier: 輛／辆 m; 部 m c; 架 c)

   • 交警騎鐵馬巡經時閃避不及，但鐵馬仍能保持平衡，沒有翻車。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     交警骑铁马巡经时闪避不及，但铁马仍能保持平衡，没有翻车。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2018 August 13, 鯉魚門道踏中凹位 交警力保平衡鐵馬企穩, in 頭條日報 (Headline Daily)

     gaau¹ ging² ke⁴ tit³ maa⁵ ceon⁴ ging¹ si⁴ sim² bei⁶ bat¹ kap⁶, daan⁶ tit³ maa⁵ jing⁴ nang⁴ bou² ci⁴ ping⁴ hang⁴, mut⁶ jau⁵ faan¹ ce¹.

     When the traffic police passed by on his motorbike, he could not dodge it, but the motorbike was still able to keep its balance and did not flip over.

Synonyms

• (armoured warhorse, valiant cavalry): 鐵騎／铁骑 (tiěqí)
• (chimes): 風鈴／风铃 (fēnglíng)
• (bicycle):

Derived terms

References

• (Min Nan) “Entry #13183”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2023.