桥

• Pinyin: qiáo
• Hanzi breakdown: 桥 = 木 (wood) + 乔 (tall, phonetic); bridges were originally tall wooden structures

Meaning

Bridge. A structure built over a river, road, or obstacle to allow crossing.

Used both literally for physical bridges and figuratively as a link or connection between things (友谊的桥梁 = bridge of friendship). China is famous for many iconic bridges, so 桥 appears often in place names and cultural references. A fundamental everyday noun.

Examples

1. 这座桥已经有一百多年的历史了。 This bridge has over a hundred years of history.
2. 过了前面那座桥就到我家了。 Once you cross the bridge ahead, you'll reach my home.
3. 他们在河上建了一座新桥。 They built a new bridge over the river.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, travel, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们从那座桥走过去吧。(Let's walk across that bridge.)
• 长江上有很多大桥。(There are many great bridges over the Yangtze River.)

Don't Say

• 你是我的桥。(Don't say 'you are my bridge' to a person — the figurative form is 桥梁, and it sounds awkward applied directly to a person. Say 你是我们之间的桥梁.)

Origin & History

桥 is simplified from 橋. The traditional form has 木 (wood) + 喬 (tall), reflecting that ancient bridges were tall wooden structures spanning rivers and valleys.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal