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Answer page

Learn Beginning Chinese: “马上”    

The correct answer for this beginning Chinese online test is B.

Analysis:

"马上 (măshàng)" means “right away,” “at once,” or “immediately.” It is used as an adverb. But in ancient time, "马上 (măshàng)" originally meant "on a horse." "马 () means horses, "上 (shàng)" means to be on something. Here was a story about it. Once upon a time, an emperor was critically ill. One of the general heard of the news when he was on a horseback. He was so worried about the emperor that he rushed into the capital immediately without getting off the horse. So today it is used as an adverb to describ doing something at once.

Example:

Tiān kànqĭlái măshàng yào xiàyǔ le.
  天    看起来   马上       要   下雨  了。    
It looks like it’s going to rain, soon.