胡同儿

• Pinyin: hú tòngr
• Hanzi breakdown: 胡 = foreign/reckless; 同 = same/together; 儿 = erhua suffix

Meaning

Hutong; alley; lane. Traditional narrow streets in old Beijing neighborhoods.

Specifically refers to traditional alleyways in Beijing, lined with siheyuan courtyard houses. Symbol of old Beijing culture and lifestyle. Some are now protected cultural heritage sites.

Examples

1. 北京的胡同儿保留了很多传统文化。 Beijing's hutongs have preserved a lot of traditional culture.
2. 我喜欢在胡同儿里骑自行车闲逛。 I like cycling around and strolling through the hutongs.
3. 这条胡同儿已经有三百多年的历史了。 This hutong has over three hundred years of history.

Usage Guide

Context: Beijing, culture, tourism, history

Tone: nostalgic

Do Say

• 我们去逛逛胡同儿吧。(Let's go stroll through the hutongs.)
• 老北京人都住在胡同儿里。(Old Beijingers all lived in hutongs.)

Don't Say

• 胡同儿 for any alley outside Beijing (in other regions, use 巷子, 弄堂, or local terms)

Origin & History

From Mongolian word meaning 'water well' or 'passageway,' dating back to the Yuan Dynasty.

Cultural Context

Era: Yuan Dynasty onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal