十字路口

• Pinyin: shí zì lù kǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 十 = 一 + 丨 (ten, cross shape); 字 = 宀 + 子 (character, word); 路 = 足 + 各 (road, path); 口 = 口 (mouth, opening, entrance)

Meaning

Crossroads; intersection. Literally a cross-shaped road junction; figuratively a critical turning point or moment of decision.

Both literal (traffic intersection) and heavily metaphorical. The figurative use — standing at a crossroads, facing a pivotal choice — is extremely common in formal speeches, essays, and media. Common phrases: 站在十字路口 (standing at a crossroads), 历史的十字路口 (a historic crossroads), 人生十字路口 (crossroads of life).

Examples

1. 请在前方十字路口右转，沿主干道行驶约两公里后即可抵达目的地。 Please turn right at the intersection ahead; after driving about two kilometers along the main road, you’ll reach your destination.
2. 年轻人在大学毕业时往往站在人生的十字路口，面临着就业、深造和创业等多种人生路径的抉择。 When they graduate from college, young people often stand at a crossroads in life, facing choices among paths like employment, further study, and starting a business.
3. 这场国际峰会被认为是全球气候治理处于历史十字路口的关键时刻，各方代表承受着巨大的谈判压力。 This international summit is seen as a pivotal moment with global climate governance at a historic crossroads, and delegates from all sides are under enormous negotiating pressure.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, navigation, rhetoric, life decisions, politics

Tone: neutral to solemn

Do Say

• 经历了这次严重的职业危机之后，他终于意识到自己站在了人生的十字路口，必须对过去的价值取向做出根本性的反思与抉择。(After experiencing this serious career crisis, he finally realised he was standing at a crossroads in his life and had to undertake a fundamental reflection on and re-evaluation of his past values and priorities.)
• 交通管理部门计划在这个事故频发的十字路口增设红绿灯和行人过街安全岛，以降低交通事故发生率。(The traffic management authority plans to install traffic lights and pedestrian safety islands at this accident-prone intersection to reduce the traffic accident rate.)

Don't Say

• 十字路口 for a T-junction — a T-junction is 丁字路口; 十字路口 specifically refers to a four-way cross intersection

Origin & History

十字 (cross shape — the character 十 looks like a plus sign) + 路口 (road entrance/junction)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal