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院子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
院子yuànzicourtyardHSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #4902, Medium
院子yuànzigardenHSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #4902, Medium
院子yuànziyardHSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #4902, Medium
院子yuànzipatioHSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #4902, Medium
院子yuànzi(old) servantHSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #4902, Medium
yuànzi(yuan4zi5)yuan zi T4
  1. 1courtyard
  2. 2garden
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March 24, 2026

院子yuànzi(yuan4zi5)

院子 (yuànzi) refers to a courtyard or yard, often found in traditional Chinese homes. It serves as an outdoor space for relaxation, gardening, and social gatherings, blending indoor and outdoor living. This term can also refer to a garden area where plants and flowers are cultivated.

Strokes12Frequency#4902DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the 院子 is often a central part of the home, reflecting the importance of family gatherings and outdoor activities. Many homes are designed around the courtyard, symbolizing harmony with nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a serene courtyard where you can hear the sound of a 'yuan' (圆, circle) of friends gathering around a beautiful garden ('zi' sounds like 'zi', meaning 'child' or 'young one' in some contexts). The circular arrangement symbolizes unity and warmth, while the garden represents growth and nurturing.

Meanings of 院子

yuànzi(yuan4zi5)
1courtyard
2garden
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About 院子

院子Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

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Podcast: 院子

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AI Study Notes for 院子

Quick Contrast

花园 (huāyuán) - use 院子 when emphasizing a courtyard space, whereas 花园 specifically refers to a garden area with cultivated plants.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 院子 with other similar terms like 花园 (huāyuán), which specifically means 'garden'. 院子 is more general and can refer to any enclosed outdoor space. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 院子 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this term can help learners grasp concepts related to traditional Chinese architecture and culture. Students should focus on the relationship between terms for different types of spaces, such as 家 (jiā, home) and 院 (yuàn, courtyard).

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 院子 to refer to any outdoor space, such as a park. Correct usage would be to specify that 院子 is a private courtyard or yard, while 公园 (gōngyuán) is used for public parks.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 院子

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Component Characters

院yuàncourtyard
HSK 29 strokes阝
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say courtyard in Chinese

“courtyard” in Chinese is院子yuànzi

院子 (yuànzi) refers to a courtyard or yard, often found in traditional Chinese homes. It serves as an outdoor space for relaxation, gardening, and social gatherings, blending indoor and outdoor living. This term can also refer to a garden area where plants and flowers are cultivated.

When to use 院子

Be careful not to confuse 院子 with other similar terms like 花园 (huāyuán), which specifically means 'garden'. 院子 is more general and can refer to any enclosed outdoor space. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

院子 or something close to it

花园 (huāyuán) - use 院子 when emphasizing a courtyard space, whereas 花园 specifically refers to a garden area with cultivated plants.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 院子 to refer to any outdoor space, such as a park. Correct usage would be to specify that 院子 is a private courtyard or yard, while 公园 (gōngyuán) is used for public parks.

Write 院子

院
子

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Cultural Notes for 院子

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While Western homes may prioritize indoor spaces, the concept of an 院子 highlights the integration of outdoor living in Chinese culture, emphasizing the connection between family and nature.

Frequently Asked Questions about 院子

院子 refers to a courtyard or yard, which can include various features, while 花园 specifically denotes a garden area focused on flowers and plants.

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