馬(うま)

馬(うま) is the standard word for horse.

READINGS:

• うま: standalone word and kun'yomi
• ば: in on'yomi compounds (競馬(けいば), 馬車(ばしゃ))
• ま: in some compounds (馬(ま)小屋(ごや))

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

• 競馬(けいば): horse racing
• 馬車(ばしゃ): horse-drawn carriage
• 馬力(ばりき): horsepower (also used figuratively)
• 子馬(こうま): foal, pony
• 乗馬(じょうば): horseback riding

IDIOMS:

• 馬(うま)が合(あ)う: to get along well (lit. "horses match")
• 馬(うま)の耳(みみ)に念仏(ねんぶつ): wasted advice on someone who won't listen (lit. "a prayer to a horse's ear")
• 馬鹿(ばか): fool, idiot (originally written with the kanji for horse and deer)

COUNTER:
Horses are counted with 頭(とう): 一頭(いっとう)、二頭(にとう).