寝室

• Pinyin: qǐn shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 寝 = 宀(roof) + 爿 + 侵 (sleep/rest); 室 = 宀(roof) + 至 (arrive — a place one returns to)

Meaning

Dormitory room; bedroom. In particular, the shared student dormitory rooms typical of Chinese universities.

In Chinese campus life, 寝室 (also 宿舍) typically houses four to eight students sharing one room. The 寝室 community often forms lasting bonds. Socially, it is the primary social unit of Chinese university life. Also used in classical contexts for a private bedchamber.

Examples

1. 大学四年，他与三位室友同住一间寝室，结下了深厚的友谊。 For four years of college, he shared a dorm room with three roommates and formed deep friendships with them.
2. 熄灯后，宿管阿姨来寝室检查，同学们立刻安静下来。 After lights-out, the dorm supervisor came to check the room, and the students immediately quieted down.
3. 她回到寝室，发现桌上放着一束鲜花，不知是谁悄悄放置的。 She returned to her dorm room and found a bouquet of flowers on the desk, with no idea who had quietly left it there.

Usage Guide

Context: campus life, education, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 寝室是大学生活的重要组成部分，室友之间的情谊往往延续终生。(The dormitory room is an essential part of university life, and the bonds forged between roommates often last a lifetime.)
• 他整理好寝室卫生后，才安心坐下来专心复习功课。(After tidying up the dormitory room, he could finally sit down and focus on revising his studies with peace of mind.)

Don't Say

• 我在寝室里处理工作事务 — use 办公室 for work; 寝室 is a residential space for sleeping and student life, not professional work

Origin & History

寝 (sleep/rest) + 室 (room) — a room designated for sleeping

Cultural Context

Generation: Youth

Social background: Universal