馬(うま)

うま

noun

horse

1. horse

A large domesticated mammal used for riding and transport.

馬(うま)に乗(の)る。

To ride a horse.

白(しろ)い馬(うま)が走(はし)っている。

A white horse is running.

馬(うま)が合(あ)う。

To get along well (with someone).

Idiom

子供(こども)の時(とき)、馬(うま)に乗(の)ってみたかった。

When I was a child, I wanted to try riding a horse.

日本(にほん)では昔(むかし)、馬(うま)は人(ひと)や荷物(にもつ)を運(はこ)ぶために使(つか)われていた。

In the past in Japan, horses were used to carry people and goods.

Pronunciation

うま: standalone word and kun'yomi
ば: in on'yomi compounds (競馬(けいば), 馬車(ばしゃ))
ま: in a few words such as 絵馬(えま) (votive horse plaque); 馬小屋(うまごや) (stable) keeps うま

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

Common expressions

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 (the kanji for horse and deer are used only for their sound)

Counting patterns

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

core

Added 2026.1.9 21:30 · Revised 2026.10.9 22:23

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