城镇

• Pinyin: chéng zhèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 城 = 土 (earth) + 成 (complete), city; 镇 = 钅(metal) + 真 (true), town

Meaning

Towns and cities; urban areas. A collective term for developed settlements.

Refers to built-up areas ranging from small towns to large cities. In Chinese statistics and policy, 城镇 often appears in contexts like 城镇化 (urbanization), 城镇居民 (urban residents), and 城镇人口 (urban population). Broader than 城市 (city) as it includes smaller towns.

Examples

1. 中国的城镇化率已经超过了百分之六十。 China's urbanization rate has exceeded sixty percent.
2. 很多农村人口转移到了城镇工作和生活。 Many rural residents have moved to towns and cities to work and live.
3. 小城镇的生活节奏比大城市慢得多。 The pace of life in small towns is much slower than in big cities.

Usage Guide

Context: policy, statistics, urban planning

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 城镇就业人数持续增加。(Urban employment numbers continue to increase.)
• 加快城镇化进程是国家战略。(Accelerating urbanization is a national strategy.)

Don't Say

• '城镇'比'城市'范围更广，包括小镇 (城镇 has a broader scope than 城市, including smaller towns)

Origin & History

Combines 城 (city) with 镇 (town), together referring to all urban settlements.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal