courtyard well; skylight; patio
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
small open courtyard or patio enclosed by houses or walls in a traditional residence
Typically found in traditional Chinese courtyard houses (siheyuan), serving as a central open space for light and ventilation.
Nǎi奶
nai奶
jiā家
de的
tiān天
jǐng井
lǐ里
zhòng种
zhe着
yī一
kē棵
guì桂
huā花
shù树
。
There is an osmanthus tree planted in the courtyard of Grandma's house.
Zhè这
gè个
sì四
hé合
yuàn院
de的
tiān天
jǐng井
suī虽
rán然
bù不
dà大
，
dàn但
cǎi采
guāng光
hěn很
hǎo好
。
Although the courtyard of this siheyuan is not large, the natural lighting is very good.
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Yǔ雨
shuǐ水
shùn顺
zhe着
wū屋
yán檐
liú流
dào到
tiān天
jǐng井
lǐ里
。
Rainwater flows down the eaves into the courtyard.
noun
skylight; opening in roof for lighting; also refers to the drainage pit below it
Regional usage, often found in older architecture in southern China. The term also refers to the drainage system (天井沟) associated with these openings.
Lǎo老
fáng房
zi子
de的
tiān天
jǐng井
ràng让
yáng阳
guāng光
sǎ洒
mǎn满
le了
zhěng整
gè个
fáng房
jiān间
。
The skylight of the old house allowed sunlight to fill the entire room.
Yǔ雨
shuǐ水
shùn顺
zhe着
tiān天
jǐng井
liú流
dào到
le了
tiān天
jǐng井
gōu沟
lǐ里
。
The rainwater flowed down the skylight into the drainage ditch.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
chuán传
tǒng统
jiàn建
zhú筑
tōng通
guò过
tiān天
jǐng井
lái来
cǎi采
guāng光
tōng通
fēng风
。
This type of traditional architecture uses skylights for natural lighting and ventilation.