Definition
抛锚 is a separable verb (离合词) with two main meanings. The literal sense is 'to drop anchor' or 'to cast anchor' for a ship. The extended sense — more common in everyday speech — means 'to break down' (of a vehicle, especially a car or bus). When you want to insert a measure word, duration, or result, the syllables split: you can say 抛了一次锚 ('dropped anchor once') or 抛过锚 ('has broken down').
v.o.
to drop anchorto cast anchor(of a vehicle) to break down
Examples
- 抛锚。Chuán zài hǎigǎng pāo máo le.The ship dropped anchor in the harbor.
- 。Nà liàng chē zài gāosù shàng pāo guò yí cì máo.That car broke down once on the highway.
- 抛锚，。Bāshì pāo máo zài bànlù shàng, chéngkè zhǐhǎo děng xià yí liàng.The bus broke down halfway, and the passengers had to wait for the next one.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.