街

jiē

亍 + 圭 + 彳

HSK 3.0Level 3

Frequency#1101

Definitions

jiē (noun) street

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 行 represents the meaning and 圭 represents the sound.

Semantic: 行 Phonetic: 圭

About

The character "街" originated from the semantic element "行", representing a road or pathway, combined with the phonetic component "圭" to form a character that initially denoted a major thoroughfare. Its structure consolidated over time into the present form, where "行" is condensed into the left radical "彳" alongside "圭" on the right. The meaning of "街" shifted from a general term for a wide road to a more specific reference to an urban street, commonly one with shops or market functions.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这条街很干净。

Zhè tiáo jiē hěn gānjìng.

This street is very clean.

我喜欢在街上散步。

Wǒ xǐhuān zài jiē shàng sànbù.

I like to take a walk on the street.

每天早上，街上都很热闹。

Měitiān zǎoshang, jiē shàng dōu hěn rènao.

Every morning, the street is very lively.

街道两旁有很多商店。

Jiēdào liǎngpáng yǒu hěnduō shāngdiàn.

There are many shops on both sides of the street.

因为街上人太多，所以走得很慢。

Yīnwèi jiē shàng rén tài duō, suǒyǐ zǒu dé hěn màn.

Because there are too many people on the street, I walk very slowly.

如果你想去逛街，我可以陪你去。

Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng qù guàngjiē, wǒ kěyǐ péi nǐ qù.

If you want to go shopping, I can accompany you.

尽管街上噪音很大，但他仍然专心工作。

Jǐnguǎn jiē shàng zàoyīn hěn dà, dàn tā réngrán zhuānxīn gōngzuò.

Even though the street noise is very loud, he still focuses on his work.

城市规划者决定拓宽这条街道以缓解交通拥堵。

Chéngshì guīhuà zhě juédìng tuòkuān zhè tiáo jiēdào yǐ huǎnjiě jiāotōng yōngdǔ.

Urban planners decided to widen this street to alleviate traffic congestion.

Related Characters

Component: 亍

Component: 圭

Component: 彳

街