院 (yuàn) - courtyard & yard

院Tone 4

yuàn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 阝

喻悦

院 · yuàn

courtyard;

yard;

institution;

compound;

used for educational, governmental, or large residential complexes.

courtyardyardinstitution

Usage highlights

hospitalcollegecourtyard houseacademycinemacourt

Synonyms

  • 庭— courtyard, front courtyard
  • 园— garden, park (larger enclosed area)

Antonyms

  • 野— wild, open field (vs. enclosed courtyard)
  • 外— outside, exterior (vs. enclosed interior)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The university courtyard (大学院) was filled with students.
  • They live in a traditional courtyard house (四合院).
  • He works at the Academy of Sciences (科学院).
  • The hospital (医院) is located downtown.
  • The movie theater (电影院) is showing a new film.

Collocations

  • hospital(医院)
  • college(学院)
  • courtyard house(四合院)
  • academy(科学院)
  • cinema(电影院)
  • court(法院)

Idioms

  • Deep courtyards and secluded compounds(深宅大院)
  • Three courtyards and four compounds(三院四舍)
  • Courtyard within courtyard, house behind house(院中有院，宅后有宅)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally refers to enclosed spaces in Chinese architecture, particularly in siheyuan (courtyard houses).
  • Extended meaning to institutions, reflecting the compound-like nature of many Chinese academic and governmental bodies.
  • Common in names of educational and medical institutions in modern Chinese.

FAQ