great streets and small alleys (idiom); everywhere in the city
HSK 7, unknown, rank #24265, Hard
dàjiēxiǎoxiàng(da4jie1xiao3xiang4) T4
1great streets and small alleys (idiom); everywhere in the city
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March 24, 2026
大街小巷()dàjiēxiǎoxiàng(da4jie1xiao3xiang4)
大街小巷 (dàjiē xiǎoxiàng) is an idiomatic expression that refers to all corners of a city, encompassing both major streets and small alleys. It is often used to emphasize the ubiquity or widespread presence of something within an urban environment.
Frequency#24265DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cities, the contrast between大街 (major streets) and小巷 (small alleys) reflects the blend of modernity and tradition, where bustling urban life coexists with historical neighborhoods. This phrase captures the essence of urban exploration in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a vast city landscape where both broad avenues (大街) and narrow lanes (小巷) are bustling with activity. Picture yourself walking through this vibrant setting, where every street and alley is alive with sounds and sights, helping you remember that this phrase means 'everywhere in the city.'
Meanings of 大街小巷
dàjiēxiǎoxiàng(da4jie1xiao3xiang4)
1great streets and small alleys (idiom); everywhere in the city
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About 大街小巷
大街小巷Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 大街小巷
Podcast: 大街小巷
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AI Study Notes for 大街小巷
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a vast city landscape where both broad avenues (大街) and narrow lanes (小巷) are bustling with activity. Picture yourself walking through this vibrant setting, where every street and alley is alive with sounds and sights, helping you remember that this phrase means 'everywhere in the city.'
Usage Notes
This phrase is typically used in informal contexts to describe the pervasiveness of people, events, or even trends within a city. A common mistake is to treat it as a literal location rather than an idiomatic expression; it should be used to convey a sense of widespread presence rather than a specific spot.
HSK Study Tips
Though not an HSK vocabulary word, 大街小巷 can be understood in the context of HSK Level 3 and above, where learners are introduced to idiomatic expressions. Students should focus on recognizing idioms and their meanings as they enrich conversational skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cities, the contrast between大街 (major streets) and小巷 (small alleys) reflects the blend of modernity and tradition, where bustling urban life coexists with historical neighborhoods. This phrase captures the essence of urban exploration in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly say '在大街小巷里' (in the big streets and small alleys) instead of simply using the idiom as is. The correct usage is '大街小巷都...' without the preposition '在.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 大街小巷
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Cultural Notes for 大街小巷
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cities, the contrast between大街 (major streets) and小巷 (small alleys) reflects the blend of modernity and tradition, where bustling urban life coexists with historical neighborhoods. This phrase captures the essence of urban exploration in China.
Frequently Asked Questions about 大街小巷
No, this idiom specifically refers to urban environments, highlighting the presence of streets and alleys in a city.
It is considered informal and is commonly used in spoken language.
You can say, '这个活动在大街小巷都很受欢迎,' meaning 'This event is popular everywhere in the city.'
