池塘

• Pinyin: chí táng
• Hanzi breakdown: 池 = 氵(water) + 也 (also, phonetic) = pond; 塘 = 土 (earth) + 唐 (phonetic) = pond/embankment

Meaning

Pond; pool. A small body of still water.

Refers to natural or man-made ponds. Common in rural landscapes, gardens, and parks. Often associated with fish, lotus, or other aquatic life.

Examples

1. 乡下老家的池塘里养着很多鱼。 The pond at my old home in the countryside has many fish in it.
2. 夏天的池塘里开满了荷花。 The pond is full of lotus flowers blooming in summer.
3. 孩子们喜欢在池塘边捉蝌蚪玩。 Children love to catch tadpoles by the pond.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, rural, scenery

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 池塘里的水今年干了不少。(The pond has dried up quite a bit this year.)
• 村口有一个大池塘，是我们小时候玩耍的地方。(There's a big pond at the village entrance where we used to play as kids.)

Don't Say

• 游泳池塘 (For swimming pools, just say 游泳池; 池塘 is specifically for natural/garden ponds)

Origin & History

Compound of 池 (pond/pool) and 塘 (embankment/pond). Both characters relate to bodies of water.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal