About
The character 城, which denotes a city or city wall, is formed from the semantic component 土 (earth) and the phonetic component 成 (to complete), indicating its original connection to earthen defensive structures. Initially referring specifically to the fortified wall surrounding a settlement, its meaning gradually broadened to include the entire urban area within those walls, reflecting the wall's defining role in ancient urban spaces. This evolution from a specific architectural feature to a general term for a city represents a common metonymic shift in the language.
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。