Definitions
(noun)
countryside; rural area
(noun)
hometown; native place
(noun)
township
About
The character "乡" originates from the traditional form "鄉", which etymologically represented two figures seated opposite a shared vessel, conveying the concept of a communal feast. This association with collective gathering gradually extended to denote a rural settlement or one's native place. Structurally, the simplified form "乡" is a graphical reduction derived from the left component of "鄉", streamlined through historical cursive writing. Over time, the semantic focus shifted from the act of dining together to the geographic and social notion of a hometown or countryside, as reflected in modern usage.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的家乡在农村。
乡村的空气很新鲜。
我喜欢回乡下去。
故乡的风景让我怀念。
每年春节我们都回乡。
乡村生活比城市生活宁静。
虽然我住在城市，但心系故乡。
对于海外游子，思乡之情难以言表。