建造

• Pinyin: jiàn zào
• Hanzi breakdown: 建 = 廴 (long stride) + 聿 (brush), meaning to establish; 造 = 辶 (walking) + 告 (tell), meaning to make

Meaning

To build; to construct. Creating structures or large projects.

Used for constructing buildings, ships, bridges, and other large structures. More formal than 盖. Implies significant construction projects rather than small-scale building.

Examples

1. 这座桥是一百年前建造的，至今仍然坚固耐用。 This bridge was built a hundred years ago and is still sturdy and durable today.
2. 政府计划建造更多的经济适用房解决住房问题。 The government plans to build more affordable housing to solve the housing problem.
3. 他们花了三年时间建造这艘万吨级的货轮。 It took them three years to build this 10,000-ton cargo ship.

Usage Guide

Context: construction, engineering, news, history

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 这座大楼正在建造中。(This building is under construction.)
• 古人是如何建造长城的？(How did ancient people build the Great Wall?)

Don't Say

• 建造一个纸飞机 (建造 is for large structures — for small things, use 做 or 制作)

Origin & History

Compound of 建 (to establish, build) + 造 (to make, create), meaning to construct by making.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal