(chǒng) - A type of cave dwelling found in loess & also refers to a sunken courtyard or pit

Tone 3

chǒng | 11 strokes | radical:

· chǒng

A type of cave dwelling found in loess plateaus of northern China;

also refers to a sunken courtyard or pit dwelling.

A type of cave dwelling found in loessalso refers to a sunken courtyard or pit

Usage highlights

cave dwellingearth dwellingground dwellingdwelling houseancient dwellingloess dwelling

Synonyms

  • 窑洞cave dwelling (more common term)
  • 地坑院sunken courtyard dwelling

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The family lived in a traditional cave dwelling (土埫).
  • Loess plateau architecture includes various types of cave houses (窑埫).
  • The village preserved ancient sunken courtyard dwellings (地埫).
  • Traditional construction methods for pit dwellings (埫屋) are being documented.

Collocations

  • cave dwelling(窑埫)
  • earth dwelling(土埫)
  • ground dwelling(地埫)
  • dwelling house(埫屋)
  • ancient dwelling(古埫)
  • loess dwelling(黄土埫)

Idioms

  • Cave dwellings in loess lands(黄土埫窑)
  • Ancient dwellings and modern homes(古埫新居)
  • Mountain cave earth dwellings(山埫土窑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Represents traditional vernacular architecture in China's loess plateau regions, particularly in Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Gansu provinces.
  • These dwellings are energy-efficient, staying cool in summer and warm in winter due to their underground or hillside construction.
  • Reflects ancient Chinese adaptation to the environment using locally available materials like loess soil.

FAQ