工地

• Pinyin: gōng dì
• Hanzi breakdown: 工 = pictograph of a carpenter's square (work); 地 = 土 + 也 (ground)

Meaning

Construction site. An area where building or engineering work is actively taking place.

A common term in urban China given rapid construction growth. Also used metaphorically for any area under intensive development or renovation.

Examples

1. 工地上机器轰鸣，工人们正在紧张施工。 The construction site roared with machinery as workers carried out the build at a fast pace.
2. 为了安全，无关人员禁止进入工地。 For safety, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the construction site.
3. 附近有个工地，噪音很大。 There’s a construction site nearby, and the noise is really loud.

Usage Guide

Context: construction, urban development, safety

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 进入工地必须佩戴安全帽。(Safety helmets must be worn when entering a construction site.)
• 工地周边已设置了围挡和安全警示标志。(Barriers and safety warning signs have been erected around the construction site.)

Don't Say

• 工地 for a workshop or factory floor — use 车间; 工地 is specifically an outdoor construction or civil engineering site

Origin & History

工 (work/construction) + 地 (ground/site)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal