mǎ tóu
wharf; dock; pier
我住在码头附近。
wǒ zhù zài mǎ tóu fù jìn.
I live near the pier.
码头上有许多船只。
mǎ tóu shàng yǒu xǔ dūo chuán zhǐ.
There are many ships at the pier.
我们从码头乘船去海边。
wǒ men cóng mǎ tóu chéng chuán qù hǎi biān.
We took a boat from the pier to the beach.
码头 (mǎtóu)
wharf
码头 (mǎtóu)
dock
陆地 (lùdì)
land
岸边 (ànbian)
shore
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The Chinese word 码头 (mǎtóu) for "wharf" or "pier" is composed of two characters: 码 (mǎ) and 头 (tóu). The character 码 (mǎ) originally meant "to tie up" or "to fasten", and was often used in the context of tying up boats. The character 头 (tóu) means "head" or "end", and in this context refers to the end of a river or canal where boats could be tied up. Thus, the compound word 码头 (mǎtóu) literally means "the place where boats are tied up", which is a fitting name for a wharf or pier.
