Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 村 | cūn |
| 鄉村 / 乡村 | xiāngcūn |
| 農村 / 农村 | nóngcūn |
| 村子 | cūnzi |
| 村莊 / 村庄 | cūnzhuāng |
| 村落 | cūnluò |
| 屯落 | túnluò |
| 鄉莊 / 乡庄 | xiāngzhuāng |
In Chinese, several terms are used to describe a village or rural habitation, depending on whether you are referring to a specific settlement, a general area or a descriptive landscape. While 村 refers to a specific village, 农村 refers more broadly to the countryside or rural areas as a whole. Similarly, 乡村 is often used in a more literary or descriptive sense to evoke the atmosphere of the countryside, whereas 农村 is more functional and administrative.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 农村 is composed of 农 (agriculture/farmer) and 村 (village), literally meaning an agricultural village.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 村子 is more commonly used in northern China.
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix 子 is often added to 村 to create 村子, which is a common way to refer to a village in a more colloquial, noun-like manner. To say 'in the village', Chinese speakers often use 村里 (literally 'village inside') rather than a preposition like '在' followed by a location.
How do you pronounce it?
cūn
Did you know?
- The word 屯 can refer to a village or hamlet, but it specifically evokes the historical 'tuntian' system where soldiers were stationed to farm the land.
- In modern China, the term 农村 is often used in political and administrative contexts to distinguish the rural population from the urban 'hukou' registration system.
- The character 村 contains the radical for 'tree', which is an interesting visual connection to the idea of a cluster of trees or a woodland settlement.
Examples in context
- 村里没通电。The village has no electricity.This sentence uses 村 to describe the lack of electricity in a village.Tatoeba #7772130 by jiangche, translation #1804113 by Spamster
- 我们村不缺水。Our village is not short of water.This sentence uses 村 to state that a village has sufficient water.Tatoeba #762132 by GlossaMatik, translation #7772882 by sharris123
- 这就是我出生的村庄。That's the village I was born in.This sentence uses 村 to identify a village as a place of birth.Tatoeba #4270728 by notabene, translation #4284635 by seltsameseeds
- 我们正在参观中国的农村村庄。We are currently visiting a rural village in China.
- 我的家乡是一个美丽的村子。My hometown is a beautiful village.
- 我在乡村生活了很多年。I have lived in the countryside for many years.
- 这个村落有悠久的历史传统。This village has a long history and tradition.
- 47 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their childhood homes.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你的家乡是在村里吗？Nǐ de jiāxiāng shì zài cūn lǐ ma?Is your hometown in a village?
- 伟 Wei是的，我从小在村里长大。Shì de, wǒ cóngxiǎo zài cūn lǐ zhǎngdà.Yes, I grew up in a village since I was a child.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那个村环境怎么样？Nàge cūn huánjìng zěnmeyàng?How is the environment in that village?
- 伟 Wei那里非常安静，空气很好。Nàlǐ fēicháng ānjìng, kōngqì hěn hǎo.It is very quiet and the air is great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “village” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 村, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
