北部

• Pinyin: běi bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 北 = pictograph of two people back to back (facing away from the sun); 部 = 咅 (phonetic) + 阝(city), meaning section

Meaning

Northern part; the north. The northern area or region of a place.

Used to describe the northern section of a country, city, or geographical area. Similar compounds exist for all directions: 南部 (south), 东部 (east), 西部 (west). More formal than 北边 or 北面.

Examples

1. 中国北部的冬天特别冷。 Winters in northern China are especially cold.
2. 这座城市的北部有一片很大的公园。 There is a large park in the northern part of this city.
3. 他的家在法国北部的一个小镇上。 His home is in a small town in northern France.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, travel, weather

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 我住在城市的北部。(I live in the northern part of the city.)
• 北部地区下雪了。(It snowed in the northern region.)

Don't Say

• 在我家的北部 (Don't use 北部 for small areas like a house — use 北边 or 北面 for nearby or personal spaces)

Origin & History

Compound of 北 (north) and 部 (part, section), meaning the northern section.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal