Meaning:

    “马” means “horse,” and “上” means “up” or “above.” A common phrase and pun, “马上” can mean both “immediately” and “on the horseback.” As the incoming Chinese New Year is the Year of the Horse, Chinese netizens have embraced the sayings beginning with “马上,” such as “马上有钱,” which can mean “becoming rich immediately” or “money on the horseback.” This has also given rise to popular toys of stuffed horses bearing Chinese characters of “财” (fortune) and “福” (bliss) on their backs.

    Example:

    A: 这个玩具小马很可爱啊，背上还写了个“福”字。

    Zhè gè wánjù xiǎomǎ hěn kě’ài a, bèishàng hái xiě le gè fú zì。

    This toy horse is very cute, with the character “fu” on its back.

    B: 今年特别流行这种小马玩具。因为是马年，所以这个玩具寓意“马上有福”。

    Jīnnián tèbié líuxíng zhèzhǒng xiǎomǎ wánjù。Yīnwèi shì mǎnián, suǒyǐ zhè gè wánjù yùyì mǎshàng yǒufú。

    This kind of toy horse is especially popular this year. Because it’s going to be the Year of Horse, this toy signifies “wishing you immediate bliss.”

    A: 有意思，就是马上到来的马年有福了。

    Yǒu yìsī, jìushì mǎshàng dàolái de mǎnián yǒu fú le。

    That’s interesting, so it bears the wish for happiness in the incoming Year of the Horse.