用地 (yòng de) — land designated for a specific purpose (e.g., industrial, commercial, agricultural)

Definition

A formal/planning term for land zoned or designated for a specific use (industrial, commercial, agricultural). It refers to the land's designated purpose, not the act of using land.

noun
land designated for a specific purpose (e.g., industrial, commercial, agricultural)
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 用地。
    Zhè kuài yòng de shì gōng yè yòng dì.
    This plot of land is for industrial use.
  • 用地。
    Zhèng fǔ guī huà le yí piàn xīn yòng de.
    The government planned a new area of land for development.
  • 用地。
    Bǎo hù nóng yè yòng de fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    Protecting agricultural land is very important.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

用yònguse
地dìland

“用” (use) + “地” (land): land set aside for use.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

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