HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #1198, Medium
城
chéng
city
HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #1198, Medium
城
chéng
town
HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #1198, Medium
城
chéng
castle, city, town; municipality
HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #1198, Medium
chéng(cheng2)cheng T2
1city walls
2city
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
城chéng(cheng2)
The character 城 (chéng) primarily refers to a city, town, or urban area, often emphasizing its defensive structures such as walls. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly when discussing geographical locations, urban planning, or historical sites. Additionally, 城 can denote the physical and symbolic aspects of a place where communities gather.
Strokes9Radical土Frequency#1198DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cities (城) often serve as centers of social life and commerce, reflecting historical significance, such as the ancient walled cities that symbolize protection and community. The city walls (城墙) are a testament to China's rich history of dynasties and their territorial boundaries.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong castle (城) with tall walls protecting its inhabitants. The character looks like a small structure with a roof (the top part) and walls (the bottom part), evoking the image of a town or city. The pronunciation 'chéng' can be remembered by thinking of 'change', as in the change from rural to urban life.
Meanings of 城
chéng(cheng2)
1city walls
2city
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 城 means.
About 城
城Simplified
9Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1198Frequency Rank
座Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 城
Podcast: 城
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AI Study Notes for 城
Quick Contrast
市 (shì) — use 城 (chéng) when emphasizing the defensive or historical aspects of a place, while 市 (shì) refers more generally to a market or commercial area.
Usage Notes
When using 城, be mindful of its common collocations, such as 城市 (chéngshì, city) and 古城 (gǔchéng, ancient city). A common mistake is to confuse 城 with 村 (cūn), which means village; remember that 城 implies a larger, more urban setting. Avoid using 城 in overly casual contexts where simpler terms like 市 might be more appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
城 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, but it is essential for learners aiming for fluency. It connects to other geographical terms and can often be combined with descriptors, enhancing vocabulary related to locations. Focus on practicing its use in sentences about urban environments.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 城 with other location-related words like 村 (village) or 镇 (town), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我住在一个城' (I live in a city) is incorrect; it should be '我住在一个城市' (I live in a city).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 城
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How Well Do You Know 城?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 城 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
城 = 土 + 成. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 城
IDS Structure⿰土成
城Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
成Cheng2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 城?
How to say city walls in Chinese
“city walls” in Chinese is城chéng
The character 城 (chéng) primarily refers to a city, town, or urban area, often emphasizing its defensive structures such as walls. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly when discussing geographical locations, urban planning, or historical sites. Additionally, 城 can denote the physical and symbolic aspects of a place where communities gather.
When to use 城
When using 城, be mindful of its common collocations, such as 城市 (chéngshì, city) and 古城 (gǔchéng, ancient city). A common mistake is to confuse 城 with 村 (cūn), which means village; remember that 城 implies a larger, more urban setting. Avoid using 城 in overly casual contexts where simpler terms like 市 might be more appropriate.
城 or something close to it
市 (shì) — use 城 (chéng) when emphasizing the defensive or historical aspects of a place, while 市 (shì) refers more generally to a market or commercial area.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 城 with other location-related words like 村 (village) or 镇 (town), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我住在一个城' (I live in a city) is incorrect; it should be '我住在一个城市' (I live in a city).
Write 城
城
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Practice writing 城 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 城
城 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 4 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.
James Fox is best known as the author of White Mischief.
11
在古代，城的作用是保护居民免受外敌的侵扰。
Zài gǔdài, chéng de zuòyòng shì bǎohù jūmín miǎn shòu wàidí de qīnrǎo.
In ancient times, the function of the city walls was to protect residents from foreign invaders.
12
考古学家在这座城的遗址中发现了许多珍贵的文物。
Kǎogǔ xuéjiā zài zhè zuò chéng de yízhǐ zhōng fāxiànle xǔduō zhēnguì de wénwù.
Archaeologists discovered many valuable artifacts at the ruins of these city walls.
13
这些城高大坚固，是古代建筑技术的杰作。
Zhèxiē chéng gāodà jiāngù, shì gǔdài jiànzhù jìshù de jiézuò.
These city walls are tall and sturdy, a masterpiece of ancient architectural techniques.
14
在古代，城的作用是保护居民免受外敌的侵扰。
Zài gǔdài, chéng de zuòyòng shì bǎohù jūmín miǎn shòu wàidí de qīnrǎo.
In ancient times, the function of the city walls was to protect residents from foreign invaders.
15
考古学家在这座城的遗址中发现了许多珍贵的文物。
Kǎogǔ xuéjiā zài zhè zuò chéng de yízhǐ zhōng fāxiànle xǔduō zhēnguì de wénwù.
Archaeologists discovered many valuable artifacts at the ruins of these city walls.
16
这些城高大坚固，是古代建筑技术的杰作。
Zhèxiē chéng gāodà jiāngù, shì gǔdài jiànzhù jìshù de jiézuò.
These city walls are tall and sturdy, a masterpiece of ancient architectural techniques.
17
在古代，城的作用是保护居民免受外敌的侵扰。
Zài gǔdài, chéng de zuòyòng shì bǎohù jūmín miǎn shòu wàidí de qīnrǎo.
In ancient times, the function of the city walls was to protect residents from foreign invaders.
18
考古学家在这座城的遗址中发现了许多珍贵的文物。
Kǎogǔ xuéjiā zài zhè zuò chéng de yízhǐ zhōng fāxiànle xǔduō zhēnguì de wénwù.
Archaeologists discovered many valuable artifacts at the ruins of these city walls.
19
这些城高大坚固，是古代建筑技术的杰作。
Zhèxiē chéng gāodà jiāngù, shì gǔdài jiànzhù jìshù de jiézuò.
These city walls are tall and sturdy, a masterpiece of ancient architectural techniques.
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Cultural Notes for 城
💡Did you know?
In ancient China, cities were often surrounded by walls for protection and defense. The character '城' reflects this historical significance, as it denotes both the concept of a city and its fortifications.
Word Family of 城
Words Containing This Character20
城市chéngshìcity
城chéngcity
城堡chéngbǎocastle
城镇chéngzhèntown城鎮
费城Philadelphia, Pennsylvania費城
汉城Hanseong, former name of Seoul (capital of South Korea), replaced in 2005 with 首爾|首尔[Shǒu'ěr]漢城
城乡chéngxiāngcity and countryside城鄉
长城chángchéngthe Great Wall長城
城区chéngqūcity district城區
进城to go to town進城
商城shāngchéngshopping center
城墙chéngqiángcity wall城牆
县城county seat縣城
古城ancient city
城市化urbanization
盐湖城Salt Lake City, capital of Utah鹽湖城
城外outside of a city
城门city gate城門
墨西哥城Mexico City, capital of Mexico
省城provincial capital
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 城
What does 城市 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 城
城 (chéng) typically refers to a city or town, often focusing on the urban area and its walls, while 市 (shì) is more about the market or city as an administrative area. In many contexts, they can be used interchangeably, but 城 has a more historical connotation.
You can use 城 (chéng) in sentences like '我住在这座城里' (wǒ zhù zài zhè zuò chéng lǐ), which means 'I live in this city.' This character often appears in phrases related to locations and urban settings.
城 (chéng) means 'city' or 'town' in Chinese. It can also refer to city walls, emphasizing its historical significance in urban development. This character is commonly used in place names and discussions about geography.
城 refers more to the concept of a city or town, often with historical or defensive connotations, while 市 typically refers to a marketplace or urban area in a broader sense.
Yes, 城 can refer to smaller towns, but it generally implies a more developed urban area compared to 村 (village) which is used for rural settings.
The common measure word for 城 is 座 (zuò) when referring to a city, highlighting its structure.
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