mansion gate; wealthy household
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
main gate of a large mansion or compound
Refers to the grand entrance of traditional Chinese courtyard houses (siheyuan), typically associated with wealthy or aristocratic families.
Lǎo老
Běi北
jīng京
de的
zhái宅
mén门
tōng通
cháng常
cháo朝
nán南
。
The gates of old Beijing mansions usually face south.
Zhè这
zuò座
zhái宅
mén门
xiū修
de得
shí十
fēn分
qì气
pài派
。
This mansion gate is built in a very grand style.
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Tā他
zhàn站
zài在
zhái宅
mén门
qián前
děng等
dài待
zhǔ主
rén人
。
He stood in front of the mansion gate waiting for the host.
noun
(figuratively) a wealthy family living in a mansion; big family
dialectOften used with the -r suffix (宅门儿) in Beijing dialect. Refers metonymically to the families rather than the physical gate.
Zhè这
hú胡
tòng同
lǐ里
yǒu有
hǎo好
jǐ几
gè个
zhái宅
mén门
r儿
。
There are several wealthy families living in this hutong.
Tā他
men们
jiā家
yǐ以
qián前
yě也
shì是
zhái宅
mén门
，
hòu后
lái来
jiā家
dào道
zhōng中
luò落
le了
。
Their family used to be a wealthy household as well, but later they fell into decline.
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Zhè这
tiáo条
jiē街
shàng上
zhù住
de的
dōu都
shì是
zhái宅
mén门
，
pǔ普
tōng通
rén人
jiā家
jìn进
bù不
lái来
。
Only wealthy families live on this street; ordinary people can't get in.