农村

• Pinyin: nóng cūn
• Hanzi breakdown: 农 = simplified from a character showing hands working the field, meaning agriculture; 村 = 木 (tree) + 寸 (hand/inch), a settlement among trees

Meaning

Countryside; rural area; village. The opposite of a city or urban area.

Refers to rural regions where agriculture is the primary activity. Often contrasted with 城市 (city). Common in discussions about development, migration, and lifestyle differences between rural and urban China. Carries neutral to warm connotations — many people feel nostalgic about 农村 life.

Examples

1. 他小时候在农村长大的。 He grew up in the countryside when he was little.
2. 现在越来越多的年轻人离开农村去城市工作。 More and more young people are leaving the countryside to work in cities.
3. 农村的空气比城市好多了。 The air in the countryside is much better than in the city.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, society, development

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 他是从农村来的。(He comes from the countryside.)
• 农村的生活节奏比较慢。(Life in the countryside is at a slower pace.)

Don't Say

• 你看起来很农村。(Never use 农村 as an adjective to describe a person — it is considered rude and condescending. Say 他来自农村 if referring to someone's background.)

Origin & History

农 means agriculture (originally depicted hands working with a tool in the field); 村 means village (木 tree + 寸 inch/hand, a settlement among trees).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal