长城

• Pinyin: cháng chéng
• Hanzi breakdown: 长 = simplified from 長, depicting long hair, meaning long; 城 = 土 (earth) + 成 (to complete), meaning city wall

Meaning

The Great Wall; literally 'long wall.' The famous ancient defensive structure stretching across northern China.

Most commonly refers to the Great Wall of China, one of the world's most famous landmarks. Also used metaphorically to mean an unbreakable barrier or strong defence, as in 钢铁长城 (the iron Great Wall, referring to national defence). The saying 不到长城非好汉 means 'one who has not reached the Great Wall is not a true hero.'

Examples

1. 去北京旅游一定要去看看长城。 When visiting Beijing, you definitely have to go see the Great Wall.
2. 长城是中国最有名的历史建筑之一。 The Great Wall is one of China's most famous historical structures.
3. 我们上个周末和朋友一起爬了长城。 We climbed the Great Wall with friends last weekend.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, culture, history

Tone: proud

Do Say

• 不到长城非好汉。(You are not a true hero unless you have been to the Great Wall.)
• 长城有两千多年的历史了。(The Great Wall has over two thousand years of history.)

Don't Say

• 我在长城上面住 (Don't say you live on the Great Wall — it's a tourist site, not a residential area; say 我住在长城附近)

Origin & History

Compound of 长 (long) and 城 (wall/city), literally 'long wall.' Construction began in the 7th century BC, with the most well-known sections built during the Ming Dynasty.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal