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March 24, 2026
院yuàn(yuan4)
The character 院 (yuàn) primarily means 'courtyard' or 'yard,' referring to an open space surrounded by walls or buildings. It can also denote an 'institution,' such as a school or hospital, often indicating a place dedicated to specific activities or functions.
Strokes9Radical阝Frequency#3704DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, courtyards (院) are often central to traditional homes, symbolizing family and community life. They serve as gathering places for celebrations and daily activities, reflecting the importance of family bonds.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, open courtyard (院) where people gather. The character has a roof (阝) over it, symbolizing protection, and the bottom part (院) resembles a person standing in the yard. Picture someone yelling 'Yuàn!' in excitement as they enter a beautiful courtyard.
Meanings of 院
yuàn(yuan4)
1courtyard
2institution
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 院 means.
About 院
院Simplified
9Strokes
阝Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3704Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 院
Podcast: 院
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AI Study Notes for 院
Quick Contrast
院 (yuàn) vs 庭 (tíng) — use 院 for enclosed spaces or institutions, while 庭 refers specifically to open courtyards or gardens.
Usage Notes
While 院 can mean 'courtyard' or 'institution', learners often confuse its usage in different contexts. It's important to note that 院 is typically used in formal settings when referring to institutions. Common collocations include 医院 (yīyuàn, hospital) and 学院 (xuéyuàn, college).
HSK Study Tips
Though 院 is not listed in the HSK levels, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to places and institutions. Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially in phrases related to education and health.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 院 in informal contexts, such as referring to a casual gathering place. Instead of saying '我们去院' (wǒmen qù yuàn), which sounds awkward, it is better to specify the context, like '我们去公园' (wǒmen qù gōngyuán, 'we go to the park').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 院
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Etymology of 院
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 完 represents the sound.
院 = 阝 + 完. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 院
IDS Structure⿰阝完
院Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
完wan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 院?
How to say courtyard in Chinese
“courtyard” in Chinese is院yuàn
The character 院 (yuàn) primarily means 'courtyard' or 'yard,' referring to an open space surrounded by walls or buildings. It can also denote an 'institution,' such as a school or hospital, often indicating a place dedicated to specific activities or functions.
When to use 院
While 院 can mean 'courtyard' or 'institution', learners often confuse its usage in different contexts. It's important to note that 院 is typically used in formal settings when referring to institutions. Common collocations include 医院 (yīyuàn, hospital) and 学院 (xuéyuàn, college).
院 or something close to it
院 (yuàn) vs 庭 (tíng) — use 院 for enclosed spaces or institutions, while 庭 refers specifically to open courtyards or gardens.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 院 in informal contexts, such as referring to a casual gathering place. Instead of saying '我们去院' (wǒmen qù yuàn), which sounds awkward, it is better to specify the context, like '我们去公园' (wǒmen qù gōngyuán, 'we go to the park').
Write 院
院
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Grammar Patterns of 院
院 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
