(dòng) — (classifier) for houses, buildings, and other standalone structures

Definition

栋 is a classifier used only for houses and buildings. Use 座 for larger landmarks like mountains or bridges, and 所 for institutions as well as houses.

classifier
for housesbuildingsand other standalone structures

Examples

  • Wǒ men gōng sī mǎi le liǎng dòng xīn bàn gōng lóu.
    Our company bought two new office buildings.
  • Zhè dòng bié shù qián miàn yǒu yí gè dà huā yuán.
    This villa has a big garden in front.
  • Xiǎo qū lǐ yí gòng yǒu yì bǎi duō dòng jū mín lóu.
    The residential complex has over a hundred apartment buildings in total.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 棟; 栋 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
dōngdòng
Same sound today

The traditional form 棟 pairs 木 (wood) with 東 as a sound part; the simplified 栋 is a shorthand.

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