城市

• Pinyin: chéng shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 城 = 土 (earth) + 成 (phonetic), meaning walled city; 市 = originally depicted a market, now meaning city or market

Meaning

City; urban area. A large and densely populated area with developed infrastructure.

The standard formal word for 'city' in modern Chinese. Used in contexts discussing urbanisation, geography, and daily life. Common in phrases like 大城市 (big city), 城市发展 (urban development), and 城市生活 (city life). The opposite is 农村 (countryside).

Examples

1. 上海是中国最大的城市之一。 Shanghai is one of the largest cities in China.
2. 越来越多的年轻人选择在大城市工作。 More and more young people choose to work in big cities.
3. 这座城市的交通很方便。 This city's transport system is very convenient.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, everyday, travel

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你最喜欢哪个城市？(Which city do you like the most?)
• 这个城市的夜景非常漂亮。(The night view of this city is very beautiful.)

Don't Say

• 我住在一个小的城市 (It's more natural to say 我住在一个小城市 — omit 的 when 小 directly modifies 城市 in this common phrase)

Origin & History

Compound of 城 (walled city) and 市 (market), reflecting how Chinese cities developed around walled settlements with central marketplaces.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal