上馬

上馬

1. (literary) to mount a horse; to climb onto the back of a horse
2. (Mainland China or Cantonese, figurative) to begin a big project

   • 值得注意的是，大家往往對投資少、見效快、市場緊俏的某些項目（如彩色電視機、收錄機、微型電腦等的裝配生產）爭相上馬，對基礎產品和投資多、難度大以及應用量少面窄的一些重要項目則缺乏積極性。
     值得注意的是，大家往往对投资少、见效快、市场紧俏的某些项目（如彩色电视机、收录机、微型电脑等的装配生产）争相上马，对基础产品和投资多、难度大以及应用量少面窄的一些重要项目则缺乏积极性。

     From: September 16, 1984, Jiang Zemin, Revitalize the Electronics Industry and Promote the Four Modernizations（《振兴电子工业，促进四化建设》）, Selected Works of Jiang Zemin (Volume I), p. 9

     Zhídé zhùyì de shì, dàjiā wǎngwǎng duì tóuzī shǎo, jiànxiào kuài, shìchǎng jǐnqiào de mǒuxiē xiàngmù (rú cǎisèdiànshìjī, shōulùjī, wēixíngdiànnǎo děng de zhuāngpèi shēngchǎn) zhēngxiāng shàngmǎ, duì jīchǔ chǎnpǐn hé tóuzī duō, nándù dà yǐjí yìngyòng liàng shǎo miàn zhǎi de yīxiē zhòngyào xiàngmù zé quēfá jījíxìng.

     It is worth noting, however, that everyone is scrambling to manufacture products such as color TV sets, radio/tape recorders and microcomputers that require little capital, generate quick returns and find a ready market, but there is a lack of enthusiasm for basic products and important projects that require large investment, are difficult to complete and have a limited range of applications.

3. (Cantonese, slang) to have sex