郊

jiāo

交 + 阝

Definitions

jiāo (noun) suburbs; outskirts

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 交 represents the sound.

Semantic: 阝 Phonetic: 交

About

郊 is a phono-semantic compound: the right-side 阝 (yì) means 'city' or 'settlement', giving the meaning, while the left-side 交 (jiāo) means 'to intersect' and provides the pronunciation. The character refers to the suburbs, the open land immediately outside a fortified city's walls. Historically, this borderland was designated for ceremonial sacrifices and farming, forming a divide between the densely populated city and the untamed wilderness. In modern usage, it has become the standard term for residential suburban districts located just outside a metropolitan area.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我家住在郊区。

Wǒ jiā zhù zài jiāoqū.

My family lives in the suburbs.

周末我们去郊游。

Zhōumò wǒmen qù jiāoyóu.

We go on an outing on weekends.

郊外的空气很新鲜。

Jiāowài de kōngqì hěn xīnxiān.

The air in the suburbs is very fresh.

春天是郊游的好季节。

Chūntiān shì jiāoyóu de hǎo jìjié.

Spring is a good season for outings.

这个公园位于城市郊区。

Zhège gōngyuán wèiyú chéngshì jiāoqū.

This park is located in the suburbs of the city.

因为郊区安静，所以很多人搬去住。

Yīnwèi jiāoqū ānjìng, suǒyǐ hěn duō rén bān qù zhù.

Because the suburbs are quiet, many people move there to live.

我们计划下个月去郊区野餐和爬山。

Wǒmen jìhuà xià gè yuè qù jiāoqū yěcān hé páshān.

We plan to go to the suburbs for a picnic and hiking next month.

尽管郊区交通不便，但它的自然环境吸引了许多居民。

Jǐnguǎn jiāoqū jiāotōng bùbiàn, dàn tā de zìrán huánjìng xīyǐn le xǔduō jūmín.

Although transportation in the suburbs is inconvenient, its natural environment attracts many residents.

Related Characters

Component: 交

Component: 阝

郊