矮種馬 / 矮种马
ǎizhǒngmǎ
The English phrase "pony" can be translated into Chinese as 矮種馬 / 矮种马 (ǎizhǒngmǎ). If unsure, use 矮種馬 / 矮种马. Wiktionary also lists 小馬 / 小马 (xiǎomǎ).
Meaning: small horse (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 矮種馬 / 矮种马 | ǎizhǒngmǎ |
| 小馬 / 小马 | xiǎomǎ |
The term is used to describe a small horse.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 矮種馬 / 矮种马 is composed of 矮 (short/dwarf), 種 (breed/species) and 馬 (horse).
Which one should you use?
矮種馬 / 矮种马 refers specifically to a pony as a distinct breed or type of small horse. In contrast, 小馬 / 小马 is a more general term meaning "small horse" and can be used colloquially to refer to any horse of small stature or even a foal, regardless of its breed.
How do you pronounce it?
ǎizhǒngmǎ
Did you know?
- The character 馬 (horse) appears in the word 馬虎 (careless), which literally translates to 'horse tiger' and describes someone who is sloppy.
- The ancient version of the character 馬 was a pictograph that looked like a drawing of a horse with a mane and tail.
- While the 'spirit of a horse' is a compliment, using the root for 'short' from 矮種馬 / 矮种马 to describe a person can be offensive.
Examples in context
- 看这矮马！真可爱！Look at this adorable pony! So cute!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pony” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
