City vocabulary (Chinese)
This list groups common Mandarin words about the city—places, transport, and urban features—handy for beginners to intermediate learners. Use it to describe where things are, get around, and handle everyday conversations in a Chinese-speaking city.
- 城市 chéngshì — city; town
- 城镇 chéngzhèn — town; cities and towns
- 市区 shìqū — urban district; downtown; city center
- 市中心 shìzhōngxīn — city center; downtown
- 街道 jiēdào — street; road
- 马路 mǎlù — street; road
- 人行道 rénxíngdào — sidewalk; pavement (the paved path for pedestrians alongside a road)
- 十字路口 shízìlùkǒu — crossroads; intersection
- 红绿灯 hónglǜdēng — traffic light; traffic signal
- 路口 lùkǒu — crossing; intersection (of roads)
- 公交车 gōngjiāochē — public transport vehicle; town bus
- 地铁 dìtiě — underground railway; subway; subway train
- 地铁站 dìtiězhàn — subway/metro station
- 火车站 huǒchēzhàn — train station
- 火车 huǒchē — train (railway vehicle)
- 机场 jīchǎng — airport; airfield
- 飞机场 fēijīchǎng — airport
- 出租车 chūzūchē — taxi; cab
- 交通 jiāotōng — to be connected; to link
- 车辆 chēliàng — vehicle; (general term for cars, trucks, etc.)
- 停车场 tíngchēchǎng — parking lot; car park
- 车站 chēzhàn — rail station; bus stop
- 站台 zhàntái — platform (at a railway/metro station)
- 票 piào — ticket (for transport, events, etc.)
- 小区 xiǎoqū — housing estate; residential compound; planned community
- 居民 jūmín — resident; inhabitant
- 商店 shāngdiàn — store; shop
- 超市 chāoshì — supermarket (abbr. for 超級市場/超级市场); classifier: 家
- 便利店 biànlìdiàn — convenience store
- 购物中心 gòuwùzhōngxīn — shopping center
- 市场 shìchǎng — market; marketplace; bazaar; (economics) market
- 夜市 yèshì — night market (outdoor market open in the evening, selling snacks, goods, entertainment)
- 餐厅 cāntīng — dining hall; dining room; restaurant
- 咖啡馆 kāfēiguǎn — café; coffee shop
- 酒吧 jiǔbā — bar (place to buy drinks)
- 酒店 jiǔdiàn — hotel; establishment providing lodging and related services
- 旅馆 lǚguǎn — hotel; small inn; lodging (CL: 家)
- 医院 yīyuàn — hospital
- 药店 yàodiàn — pharmacy; drugstore (a shop that sells medicine and medical supplies)
- 学校 xuéxiào — school; educational institution or its buildings
- 大学 dàxué — The Great Learning, one of the Four Books in Confucianism
- 图书馆 túshūguǎn — library
- 博物馆 bówùguǎn — museum
- 电影院 diànyǐngyuàn — cinema; movie theater
- 体育馆 tǐyùguǎn — gym; gymnasium; stadium
- 体育场 tǐyùchǎng — stadium
- 公园 gōngyuán — park (for public recreation)
- 广场 guǎngchǎng — public square; plaza
- 绿地 lǜdì — green area; open green space such as an urban park, lawn, or garden
- 河 hé — river
- 桥 qiáo — bridge (structure crossing a gap or water)
- 高楼 gāolóu — tall building; multistory building; skyscraper
- 摩天大楼 mótiāndàlóu — skyscraper
- 办公楼 bàngōnglóu — office building
- 公司 gōngsī — company; firm; corporation
- 工厂 gōngchǎng — factory