How to Say "Dorm" in Chinese - How To Say Guide

宿舍

sùshè

The Chinese word for "dorm" is 宿舍 (sùshè).

宿舍 is a general term used to refer to dormitories, whether they are designed for students or for worker housing.

Meaning: room (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The first character, 宿, means to lodge or stay overnight.

In some areas, particularly in Guangdong and Hong Kong, the term 床位 (chuángwèi) is used specifically to mean "bed space" within a dormitory setting.

sùshè

The character 宿 is also used in the word 宿敌, which means 'arch-enemy'. This comes from the idea of a grudge that has 'lodged' or stayed with someone for a very long time.
In some contexts, the word 宿 is used in astronomy to refer to 'lodging' or 'resting' in the stars, specifically the twenty-eight lunar mansions. This connects the idea of a 'dorm' to the ancient practice of celestial observation.
In Chinese universities, the 宿舍 is often governed by a 寝室长 (qǐnshìzhǎng) or 'room monitor' who is a fellow student responsible for maintaining order and cleanliness.

他一放学就回宿舍了。
He went back to the dorm as soon as he finished class.
This sentence shows someone returning to the 宿舍 after finishing class.
Tatoeba #2367577 by GlossaMatik, translation #2367578 by eastasiastudent
你習慣在宿舍生活了嗎？
Have you gotten used to living in the dorm?
This sentence asks if someone has become accustomed to living in the 宿舍.
Tatoeba #5117087 by xjjAstrus, translation #1199362 by CK
我们大家住在同一个宿舍。
We all live in the same dorm.
This sentence describes a group of people living in the same 宿舍.
Tatoeba #12422348 by jkyochen, translation #3893117 by AlanF_US
我住在学校的宿舍里。
I live in the dormitory at school.
我和室友一起住在寝室里。
I live with my roommate in the dorm.
我朋友住在那座宿舍楼的三楼。
My friend lives on the third floor of that dormitory building.
4 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two students are meeting after class on campus.

佳怡 Jiayi

俊杰，你要回宿舍吗？
Jùnjié, nǐ yào huí sùshè ma?
Junjie, are you going back to the dorm?
俊杰 Junjie

是的，我想回宿舍休息。
Shì de, wǒ xiǎng huí sùshè xiūxi.
Yes, I want to go back to the dorm to rest.
佳怡 Jiayi

你的宿舍离这儿远吗？
Nǐ de sùshè lí zhèr yuǎn ma?
Is your dorm far from here?
俊杰 Junjie

不远，走几分钟就到了。
Bù yuǎn, zǒu jǐ fēnzhōng jiù dào le.
Not far, it's just a few minutes walk.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏