建築 / 建筑
jiànzhù
Architecture in Chinese is translated as 建築 / 建筑 (jiànzhù). If unsure, use 建築 / 建筑. Wiktionary also lists 建築學 / 建筑学 (jiànzhùxué).
Meaning: art and science of designing buildings and other structures (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 建築 / 建筑 | jiànzhù |
| 建築學 / 建筑学 | jiànzhùxué |
The term is used to describe the art and science of designing buildings and other structures. It can refer to the physical structures themselves or the general concept of construction.
What does it mean word for word?
The first character, 建 / 建, means 'to build', 'to establish' or 'to construct'.
Which one should you use?
建築 / 建筑 refers to the physical buildings or the act of construction itself. In contrast, 建築學 / 建筑学 is used when discussing architecture as an academic field, a professional discipline or the study of the subject.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The traditional character form 建築 / 建筑 is commonly used in Hong Kong and Taiwan to refer to architecture, while 建築學 / 建筑学 is used there to denote the academic study of the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
jiànzhù
Did you know?
- The character 築 / 筑 is a linguistic fossil of ancient engineering. It originally depicted the process of ramming earth into wooden frames to create incredibly strong, solid walls.
- In classical thought, 建築 / 建筑 was not just about shelter but a way to harmonize human life with the heavens. Architects designed layouts to mirror star alignments and the flow of 'qi' or energy.
- Traditional Chinese architecture is often described as 木構 / 木构, meaning 'wooden structure', because for centuries, the structural essence of 建築 / 建筑 relied on interlocking joints rather than nails.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “architecture” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
