chē 车 shuǐ 水 mǎ 马 lóng 龙

车水马龙 chē shuǐ mǎ lóng

heavy traffic; a bustling street

Literally: carriages water horses dragon

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Origin

From the Book of the Later Han: Empress Ma described the stream of visitors at her relatives' gate as 车如流水,马如游龙 (carriages like flowing water, horses like a swimming dragon).

How to use it

Predicate; neutral. Often 街上车水马龙.

Example sentences

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晚上的市中心车水马龙，非常热闹。

Wǎnshang de shì zhōngxīn chē shuǐ mǎ lóng, fēicháng rènao.

The city centre at night is full of traffic and very lively.

evening (particle) city centre carriages water horses dragon, extremely lively
我家门口的大街每天都车水马龙。

Wǒ jiā ménkǒu de dàjiē měi tiān dōu chē shuǐ mǎ lóng.

The main street outside my house is busy with traffic every day.

I home doorway (particle) main-street every day all carriages water horses dragon

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