公园

• Pinyin: gōng yuán
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = public; 园 = 囗 (enclosure) + 元 (origin) — an enclosed garden

Meaning

Park; public garden. An outdoor recreational area open to the public.

A very common word in Chinese daily life. Parks in China are popular gathering places for morning exercise, dancing, and socialising, especially among older adults.

Examples

1. 我们去公园散步吧。 Let's go for a walk in the park.
2. 公园里有很多人在跳舞。 There are many people dancing in the park.
3. 这个公园的花开得很漂亮。 The flowers in this park are blooming beautifully.

Usage Guide

Context: leisure, recreation, meeting places

Tone: pleasant, everyday

Do Say

• 周末我们去公园玩吧。(Let's go to the park on the weekend.)
• 公园里很安静。(It is very quiet in the park.)

Don't Say

• 不要把公园和花园混淆 — 公园 is a public park open to everyone; 花园 is a private garden, often at someone's home.

Origin & History

Compound of 公 (public) and 园 (garden, park), meaning 'public garden.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal