About
城 is a phono-semantic compound that goes back to the ancient practice of erecting fortified settlements with rammed earth. The left-side component, 土 (earth), serves as the semantic radical, highlighting this key building material. The right-side component, 成 (chéng), is a phonetic element that gives the character its pronunciation. Originally, the graph denoted the defensive city walls themselves, barriers of compacted soil built to protect a settlement's population from outside threats. Because no major urban center could exist without such protective walls, the term's scope expanded over time to refer to the entire walled city.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
城市很漂亮。
我们去城里玩。
这座城有古老的历史。
城墙保护了城市的安全。
北京是中国的首都城市。
城市规划需要考虑交通问题。
随着城市化进程，许多乡村变成了城市。
在数字化时代，智慧城市的概念越来越重要。
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