yuàn
独院
courtyard; compound; institution
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesnoun
a courtyard; a compound
neutralA typical feature of traditional Chinese architecture; often contains open space for activities.
Wǒ我
men们
jiā家
de的
yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
zhòng种
le了
hěn很
duō多
huā花
。
We planted many flowers in our family's courtyard.
Hái孩
zi子
men们
zài在
yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
wán玩
shuǎ耍
。
The children are playing in the courtyard.
noun
a public institution or organization (often for education, culture, or governance)
formalOften appears in the names of academies, hospitals, government bodies, etc.
Tā他
kǎo考
shàng上
le了
diàn电
yǐng影
xué学
yuàn院
。
He got into the film academy.
Zhè这
jiā家
yī医
yuàn院
shì是
běn本
shì市
zuì最
hǎo好
de的
yī医
yuàn院
。
This hospital is the best in the city.
noun
a single-family courtyard; a private compound inhabited by only one household
neutralA specific type of courtyard housing, providing privacy. The suffix '儿' (r) is often added in spoken Mandarin, making it '院儿' (yuànr).
Tā他
jiā家
shì是
dú独
mén门
dú独
yuàn院
r儿
，
hěn很
ān安
jìng静
。
His home is a single-family compound with its own gate, very quiet.
Nà那
ge个
xiǎo小
yuàn院
r儿
lǐ里
zhǐ只
zhù住
zhe着
yī一
wèi位
lǎo老
rén人
。
Only one elderly person lives in that small courtyard.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
dú独
yuàn院
r儿
zài在
xiàn现
dài代
chéng城
shì市
lǐ里
hěn很
shǎo少
jiàn见
le了
。
This kind of single-family courtyard is rarely seen in modern cities.