礼堂 (lǐ táng) — auditorium, assembly hall | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A large indoor hall for ceremonies, meetings, or performances — bigger than a classroom, not for eating (that's 食堂).

noun

auditoriumassembly hall

Measure word · 座, 处

Examples

礼堂，。
Zhè zuò lǐ táng shì xīn jiàn de, fēi cháng kuān chang.
This auditorium is newly built and very spacious.
礼堂，。
Gōng sī yǒu yí chù lǐ táng, yòng lái jǔ bàn huì yì.
The company has an auditorium used for holding meetings.
礼堂。
Bì yè diǎn lǐ zài lǐ táng jǔ xíng.
The graduation ceremony is held in the auditorium.

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.

礼lǐceremony

礼 means ceremony and 堂 means hall, so the word names a hall for assemblies.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

礻豊禮

Meaning part形符xíngfú

礻Written in full as示shìaltar

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ禮lǐ

Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng堂táng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堂 uses 土 as a ground/earth part and 尚 for sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Rooms & Spaces

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