地带

• Pinyin: dì dài
• Hanzi breakdown: 地 = 土 (earth) + 也 (phonetic); 带 = belt, zone

Meaning

Zone; area; belt; region. A geographical area with certain characteristics.

Used to describe areas defined by geography, climate, or other features. Common terms include 热带 (tropical zone), 安全地带 (safe zone), 边境地带 (border area), and 灰色地带 (gray area, figuratively).

Examples

1. 这片沿海地带是重要的经济开发区。 This coastal zone is an important economic development area.
2. 地震发生在板块交界的活跃地带。 The earthquake occurred in an active zone at the plate boundary.
3. 探险队即将进入一片无人地带。 The expedition team is about to enter an uninhabited zone.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, military, development

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这是工业地带。(This is an industrial zone.)
• 边境地带很危险。(The border zone is dangerous.)

Don't Say

• '地带'强调带状区域——点状或不规则区域用'地区'或'区域'更合适 (地带 emphasizes belt-like areas — for point-like or irregular areas, 地区 or 区域 is more appropriate)

Origin & History

Compound of 地 (earth, land) + 带 (belt, zone), describing a strip or zone of land.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal