栋

• Pinyin: dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 栋 = 木 (wood) + 东 (east, phonetic component)

Meaning

Measure word for buildings, especially houses, apartment blocks, or other standalone structures.

Used when counting complete buildings such as houses, villas, or apartment blocks. Similar to 座 but more specific to residential or standalone structures. Appears frequently in real estate and architectural contexts.

Examples

1. 整个小区共建有二十栋住宅楼。 The entire complex has a total of twenty apartment buildings.
2. 他名下登记了三栋房产。 Three properties are registered under his name.
3. 这栋建筑是本市最早的西式洋楼之一。 This building is one of the city’s earliest Western-style mansions.

Usage Guide

Context: real estate, architecture, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 开发商计划在此地兴建五栋高层公寓楼。(The developer plans to build five high-rise apartment towers on this site.)
• 小区中间那栋楼住的都是老居民。(The building in the middle of the community is all longtime residents.)

Don't Say

• 一栋人 — 栋 only quantifies buildings; use 个/位/名 for people, 棵 for trees, 辆 for vehicles

Origin & History

木 (wood radical) + 东 (phonetic) — originally referred to the main ridge beam of a traditional roof

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal