面积

• Pinyin: miàn jī
• Hanzi breakdown: 面 = pictograph of a face, extended to mean surface; 积 = 禾 (grain) + 只 (only), meaning to accumulate — piled-up grain, extended to measurement

Meaning

Area; surface area. The measurement of the size of a surface or region.

A standard term used in maths, geography, real estate, and daily life. Used to describe the size of rooms (房间面积), land (土地面积), countries (国土面积), and more. Always refers to two-dimensional size — for three-dimensional space, 体积 (volume) is used. Very common in practical contexts like renting or buying property.

Examples

1. 这间房子的面积有多大？ How big is the area of this house?
2. 中国的国土面积排世界第三。 China's land area ranks third in the world.
3. 公园的面积比以前大了很多。 The park's area has become much bigger than before.

Usage Guide

Context: real estate, geography, mathematics

Tone: factual

Do Say

• 这套房子的面积是八十平方米。(This apartment's area is eighty square metres.)
• 森林面积每年都在减少。(Forest area is shrinking every year.)

Don't Say

• 这条路的面积很长。(Don't use 面积 for length — 面积 measures two-dimensional space. For the length of a road, say 这条路很长.)

Origin & History

面 means surface or face; 积 means to accumulate or measure. Together: the measured extent of a surface — area.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal