23 June 2021

hsk 5 lesson 14 with pinyin and English translation

Lesson 14   京的四合院  
Quadrangle Courtyards in Beijing

Jīng de sìhéyuàn
京的四合院   
Quadrangle Courtyards in Beijing

Sìhéyuàn, shì zhōngguó huáběi dìqū mínjū zhōng de yī zhǒng zǔhé jiànzhú xíngshì.

四合院, 是中国华北地区民居中的一种组合建筑形式。

Siheyuan is a combined architectural form of residential buildings in North China.


Suǒwèi sì hé, “sì” zhǐ dōng, xī, nán, běi sìmiàn, 

所谓四合, “四” 指东、西、南、北四面, 

The so-called "four-in-one" refers to the east, west, south, and north sides. 


“hé” jiùshì sìmiàn fángwū wéi zài yīqǐ, 

“合” 就是四面房屋围在一起, 

"combined" means that houses on all sides are surrounded by houses 


zhōngjiān xíngchéng yīgè fāngxíng de yuànzi.

中间形成一个方形的院子。

forming a square yard in the middle.


Sìhéyuàn zài zhōngguó hànzú mínjū zhōng lìshǐ zuì yōujiǔ, fēnbù zuì guǎngfàn.

四合院在中国汉族民居中历史最悠久, 

Siheyuan has the longest history and the most widespread distribution among the dwellings of the Han nationality in China.


Bùguò, zhǐyào rénmen yī tí dào sìhéyuàn, 

不过, 只要人们一提到四合院, 

However, when people mention Siheyuan, 


biàn zìrán huì xiǎngdào běijīng sìhéyuàn, 

便自然会想到北京四合院, 

they will naturally think of Beijing Siheyuan.


zhè shì yīnwèi chuántǒng de běijīng sìhéyuàn dōu yǒuyī tào gùdìng de yàngshì, 

这是因为传统的北京四合院都有一套固定的样式, 

This is because the traditional Beijing Siheyuan has a set of fixed styles, 


shífēn jùyǒu dàibiǎo xìng, 

十分具有代表性, 

which is very representative. 


zài gè zhǒng gè yàng de sìhéyuàn zhōng, 

在各种各样的四合院中, 

Among all kinds of Siheyuan, 


Běijīng sìhéyuàn kěyǐ dàibiǎo qí zhǔyào tèdiǎn.

北京四合院可以代表其主要特点。

Beijing Siheyuan can represent its main Features.


Běijīng yǒu gè zhǒng guīmó de sìhéyuàn.

北京有各种规模的四合院。

There are courtyards of various sizes in Beijing.


Zuì jiǎndān de sìhéyuàn zhǐyǒu yīgè yuànzi, 

最简单的四合院只有一个院子, 

The simplest quadrangle courtyard has only one courtyard, 


bǐjiào fùzá de yǒu liǎng sān gè, 

比较复杂的有两三个, 

and the more complicated ones have two or three, 


ér yǒu qián rénjiā de, 

而有钱人家的, 

while those of the rich are 


tōngcháng shì yóu hǎojǐ zuò sìhéyuàn bìngliè zǔchéng de.

通常是由好几座四合院并列组成的。

usually composed of several quadrangular courtyards side by side.


Dàmén yībān kāi zài dōngnán jiǎo huò xīběi jiǎo, 

大门一般开在东南角或西北角, 

The gate generally opens in the southeast or northwest corner. 


yuàn zhōng de běi fáng shìzhèng fáng, 

院中的北房是正房, 

The north house in the courtyard is the main house, 


bǐ qítā fángwū de guī mú dà, 

比其他房屋的规模大, 

which is larger in scale than other houses. 


yībān bāokuò zhǎngbèi de wòshì 

一般包括长辈的卧室

It generally includes the elder's bedroom 


hé jùbèi rìcháng qǐjū, 

和具备日常起居、

and the living room 


jiēdài kèrén děng gōngnéng de kètīng.

接待客人等功能的客厅。

with functions such as daily living and receiving guests.


Yuànzi de liǎngbiān shì dōngxī xiāngfáng, 

院子的两边是东西厢房, 

On both sides of the yard are east and west wing rooms, 


shì wǎnbèimen shēnghuó de dìfāng.

是晚辈们生活的地方。

where the younger generation lives.


Zài zhèng fáng hé xiāngfáng zhī jiān jiàn yǒu zǒuláng, 

在正房和厢房之间建有走廊, 

There is a corridor between the main room and the wing room 


kěyǐ gōng rén xíngzǒu hé xiūxí.

可以供人行走和休息。

for people to walk and rest.


Yuànzi shì shí fèn lǐxiǎng de shìwài shēnghuó kōngjiān.

院子是十分理想的室外生活空间。

The yard is an ideal outdoor living space.


Yǒu de rénjiā xǐhuan zhǒng cǎo, yǎng huā, zhǒng zhúzi, 

有的人家喜欢种草、养花、种竹子, 

Some people like to grow grass, flowers, and bamboo, 


yǒu de rénjiā zé xǐhuan yòng dà pén yǎng jīnyú.

有的人家则喜欢用大盆养金鱼。

while others like to raise goldfish in large pots.


Yuànzi bùjǐn lā jìnle rén yǔ zìrán de guānxì, 

院子不仅拉近了人与自然的关系, 

The yard not only closes the relationship between man and nature, 


yě ràng jiālǐ rén zài cǐ dédàole gǎnqíng de jiāoliú, 

也让家里人在此得到了感情的交流, 

but also allows family members to get emotional exchanges here, 


duì chuàngzào shēnghuó qíngqù qǐle hěn dà zuòyòng, 

对创造生活情趣起了很大作用, 

which plays a great role in creating the interest of life, 


yīn'ér zuìwéi rénmen suǒ xǐ'ài.

因而最为人们所喜爱。

so it is most loved by people.


Zhǐyào guānbì qǐ dàmén, 

只要关闭起大门, 

As long as the gate is closed, 


sìhéyuàn nèi biàn xíngchéng yīgè fēngbì shì de xiǎo huánjìng.

四合院内便形成一个封闭式的小环境。

a closed small environment is formed in the courtyard.


Zhù zài sìhéyuàn lǐ de rén 

住在四合院里的人

People who live in courtyards 


bù cháng yǔ zhōuwéi de línjū dǎjiāodào.

不常与周围的邻居打交道。

don't often deal with neighbors around them.


Zài xiǎo yuàn lǐ, 

在小院里, 

In the small courtyard, 


yījiā rénguòzhe yǔ shì wú zhēng de rìzi, 

一家人过着与世无争的日子, 

the family leads a life inconsistent with the world 


chōngfèn xiǎngshòu jiātíng de lèqù, 

充分享受家庭的乐趣, 

and fully enjoys the fun of the family, 


zìrán yǒuyī zhǒng lìng rén gǎndào zìzài qīnqiè de qìfēn.

自然有一种令人感到自在亲切的气氛。

naturally there is a kind of comfortable and friendly atmosphere.


Dàn yěyǒu duō hù hé zhù yīzuò sìhéyuàn de qíngkuàng, 

但也有多户合住一座四合院的情况, 

However, there are also cases where multiple households live in a quadrangle courtyard, 


bèi chēng wèi “dàzáyuàn”, 

被称为 “大杂院”, 

which is called a "large compound courtyard", 


zhùhù duō wèi pǔtōng láodòng rénmín.

住戶多为普通劳动人民。

and the residents are mostly ordinary working people.


Línlǐ zhī jiān yǒushí suīrán yěyǒu máodùn, 

邻里之间有时虽然也有矛盾, 

Although sometimes there are conflicts between neighbors, 


dàn gèng duō shíhòu shì hù bāng hùzhù, 

但更多时候是互帮互助, 

but more often they help each other, 


bùshì qīnrén shèngguò qīnrén, 

不是亲人胜过亲人,

not relatives are better than loved ones, 


zhè zhǒng nóng nóng de qínggǎn shì xǔduō lǎo běijīng rén wúfǎ wàngjì de.

这种浓浓的情感是许多老北京人无法忘记的。

this kind of strong emotion is not forgotten by many old Beijingers.


Gǎibiān zì bǎidù wénkù “jiànzhú xīnshǎng zhī sìhéyuàn”

改编自百度文库《建筑欣赏之四合院》

Adapted from Baidu Library "Architectural Appreciation Siheyuan"

Full Translation:

Quadrangle Courtyards in Beijing

Siheyuan is a combined architectural form of residential buildings in North China. The so-called "four-in-one" refers to the east, west, south, and north sides. "combined" means that houses on all sides are surrounded by houses forming a square yard in the middle. Siheyuan has the longest history and the most widespread distribution among the dwellings of the Han nationality in China.

However, when people mention Siheyuan, they will naturally think of Beijing Siheyuan. This is because the traditional Beijing Siheyuan has a set of fixed styles, which is very representative. Among all kinds of Siheyuan, Beijing Siheyuan can represent its main Features. There are courtyards of various sizes in Beijing.

The simplest quadrangle courtyard has only one courtyard, and the more complicated ones have two or three, while those of the rich are usually composed of several quadrangular courtyards side by side. The gate generally opens in the southeast or northwest corner. The north house in the courtyard is the main house, which is larger in scale than other houses. 

It generally includes the elder's bedroom and the living room with functions such as daily living and receiving guests. On both sides of the yard are east and west wing rooms, where the younger generation lives.

There is a corridor between the main room and the wing room for people to walk and rest. The yard is an ideal outdoor living space.

Some people like to grow grass, flowers, and bamboo, while others like to raise goldfish in large pots. The yard not only closes the relationship between man and nature, but also allows family members to get emotional exchanges here, which plays a great role in creating the interest of life, so it is most loved by people. As long as the gate is closed, a closed small environment is formed in the courtyard.

People who live in courtyards don't often deal with neighbors around them. In the small courtyard, the family leads a life inconsistent with the world and fully enjoys the fun of the family, naturally there is a kind of comfortable and friendly atmosphere. However, there are also cases where multiple households live in a quadrangle courtyard, which is called a "large compound courtyard", and the residents are mostly ordinary working people.

Although sometimes there are conflicts between neighbors, but more often they help each other, not relatives are better than loved ones, this kind of strong emotion is not forgotten by many old Beijingers.

hsk 5 上 lesson 14 audio with pinyin and English translation 👇


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