串门

• Pinyin: chuàn mén
• Hanzi breakdown: 串 (move through / link) + 门 (door / household) -> visit another household casually.

Meaning

To drop by someone's home for a visit. It implies informal visiting, usually among neighbors, relatives, or close friends.

串门 feels more casual than a formal appointment. It evokes community life, family ties, and old-neighborhood habits, though many urban people now call ahead first.

Examples

1. 周末去外婆家串门，顺便吃饭。 We're going to Grandma's place at the weekend to drop by and have a meal.
2. 邻居来串门，带了一盘水果。 The neighbour came round for a visit and brought a plate of fruit.
3. 现在串门前最好先问对方方不方便。 It's best to ask first now whether the other person is free before dropping by.

Usage Guide

Context: family, neighbors, friends, community life

Tone: warm, informal

Do Say

• 周末去外婆家串门，顺便吃饭。
• 邻居来串门，带了一盘水果。

Don't Say

• Do not use it for formal business visits.

Common Mistakes

• Using 串门 for meeting at a cafe; it usually means visiting someone's home.

Origin & History

Traditional colloquial phrase from moving between household doors in a community.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to modern Mandarin

Generation: Broadly understood

Social background: Common in family and neighborhood life

Regional notes: Used throughout Mainland China, with stronger flavor in close communities.