院

yuàn
#338 most
frequent character
yard, compound, courtyard, college
noun
Measure words:个 gè

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

院 was first written 完, which had 宀 building and 元 yuán for the sound. Its earliest sense was a surrounding wall. Later 阝 was added; it shows a row of hills and means something that separates. From 'wall' came 'courtyard', then 'building' and 'institution'.

Drawn as: row of hills

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Example Sentences

我家有一个大院。
wǒjiā yǒu yígè dàyuàn 。
My home has a big yard.
学校的院子里有很多树。
xuéxiào de yuànzǐ lǐ yǒu hěnduō shù 。
There are many trees in the school courtyard.
他在大学的院子里学习。
tāzài dàxué de yuànzǐ lǐ xuéxí 。
He studies in the college yard.

Words with similar meanings

庭tíng
courtyard
More commonly refers to a courtyard, often implying a more enclosed space.
场cháng
field
Generally refers to an open space or area which can also imply a yard but is less specific.

Homophones

怨yuàn
blame, complain, resentment, enmity
愿yuàn
will, wish, desire, hope, willing
远yuàn
to distance oneself from (classical)

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