桥梁

• Pinyin: qiáo liáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 桥 = 木 (wood) + 乔 (tall) — a tall wooden structure; 梁 = 木 (wood) + 氵(water) + 刃 (blade) — a beam

Meaning

Bridge. A structure built to span a gap, or figuratively a connection between parties.

Used literally for physical bridges and figuratively for connections, intermediaries, or links between people, ideas, or entities. Common in discussing communication, diplomacy, and relationships. More formal than 桥 alone.

Examples

1. 这座桥梁的设计非常精妙，已经成为城市的标志性建筑。 The design of this bridge is very ingenious and has become an iconic structure of the city.
2. 语言是不同文化之间沟通的桥梁。 Language is a bridge for communication between different cultures.
3. 他在两个部门之间起到了桥梁的作用。 He played a bridging role between the two departments.

Usage Guide

Context: architecture, communication, metaphor

Tone: connecting

Do Say

• 我们要搭建友谊的桥梁。(We should build a bridge of friendship.)
• 这座桥梁历史悠久。(This bridge has a long history.)

Don't Say

• 在口语中通常只说'桥'而不是'桥梁' (In casual speech, just say 桥 rather than 桥梁 — the latter is more formal or literary)

Origin & History

Compound of 桥 (bridge) and 梁 (beam, ridge). Together they emphasize the structural nature of bridges, whether physical or metaphorical.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal