所

• Pinyin: suǒ
• Hanzi breakdown: 所 = 户 (door) + 斤 (axe), originally depicting a place of work

Meaning

Place; location. Also a measure word for buildings and institutions.

As a measure word, used for buildings like schools, hospitals, and houses: 一所学校 (a school), 一所医院 (a hospital). Also appears in many grammatical structures such as 所以 (therefore) and 所有 (all/possess).

Examples

1. 这是一所很有名的大学。 This is a very famous university.
2. 附近有一所医院。 There is a hospital nearby.
3. 他在一所小学当老师。 He works as a teacher at a primary school.

Usage Guide

Context: education, institutions, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这所学校有三千名学生。(This school has three thousand students.)
• 那是一所很好的医院。(That is a very good hospital.)

Don't Say

• 一所汽车停在路边。(Don't use 所 as a measure word for vehicles — use 辆 instead. 所 is for buildings and institutions only.)

Origin & History

Originally depicted an axe (斤) at a door (户), representing a place of activity. Extended to become a general word for places and a measure word for institutions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal