单元 (dān yuán) — unit (a component of a larger whole, e.g., in a textbook or project); residential unit; entrance (in a building)

Definition

Common word for a 'unit' in a textbook, course, or project (one section of a larger whole). Also refers to a residential unit / building entrance — in that sense, close to 入口.

noun
unit (a component of a larger whole, e.g., in a textbook or project)residential unitentrance (in a building)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 单元。
    Zhè běn shū yǒu shí gè dān yuán.
    This book has ten units.
  • 单元。
    Wǒ men zhù zài tóng yí gè dān yuán.
    We live in the same unit.
  • 单元。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù fēn wéi sān gè dān yuán.
    This project is divided into three units.

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.

单dānsingle
元yuánunit

“单” gives single, “元” gives unit, so the word denotes one separable unit in a text or building.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 單; 单 is its simplified writing.

The form 單 originally pictured a Y-shaped wooden stick with two stones on top.

Open 单 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 元 shows a figure with two lines for a head, one connected to the body and one above it, emphasizing the head.

Open 元 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Home & Housing

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.