都城 (dū chéng) — capital city (especially an ancient capital); (archaic) manor allocated to a high official

Definition

Refers to the capital city of a historical dynasty, often carrying a classical or literary flavor. Compared with 首都 (modern national capital), 都城 leans toward ancient or dynastic capitals.

noun
capital city (especially an ancient capital)(archaic) manor allocated to a high official
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 都城。
    Gǔ chéng xī ān céng shì duō gè cháo dài de dū chéng.
    The ancient city Xi'an was the capital of several dynasties.
  • 都城。
    Zhè zuò dū chéng de jiàn zhù fēng gé róng hé le nán běi tè sè.
    The architectural style of this capital city blends northern and southern features.
  • ，都城。
    Zài táng dài, cháng ān shì zuì fán huá de dū chéng.
    In the Tang dynasty, Chang'an was the most prosperous capital city.

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.

都dōucapital
城chéngcity

都 means capital and 城 means city, so together they name the capital city.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
邑邑yìtown, city
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě都dōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

都 is built from 者, which supplies the sound, and 邑, meaning town or city.

Open 都 →

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tǔsoil
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng城chéng
Same sound today

城 pairs 土 (soil) with 成 as a sound part, because city walls were originally made of stamped earth.

Open 城 →

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