街坊 (jiē fang) — neighbor (in the sense of a familiar community member, often used collectively); neighborhood (an area where neighbors know each other well)

Definition

Refers to neighbors you actually know and the tight-knit community around them, with a warm, old-fashioned feel. Use 邻居 for a single next-door neighbor and 小区/社区 for the residential area itself.

noun
neighbor (in the sense of a familiar community member, often used collectively)neighborhood (an area where neighbors know each other well)

Examples

  • 街坊
    jiē fang Zhī jiān yīng gāi hù xiāng bāng zhù.
    Neighbors should help each other.
  • 街坊
    Zhè ge jiē fang de lǎo rén jīng cháng yì qǐ xià qí.
    The elderly in this neighborhood often play chess together.
  • 街坊
    Wǒ cóng xiǎo zài zhè ge jiē fang zhǎng dà, duì zhè lǐ hěn yǒu gǎn qíng.
    I grew up in this neighborhood and have a strong attachment to it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

jiēstreet

街坊 joins 街 (street) and 坊 (lane) to name the local lanes and their people.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
guījiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

街 combines 行 and 圭: 行 is the meaning part, and 圭 is the sound part. Originally, 圭 drew a pair of ritual axes, not earth.

Open 街 →

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
earth
Sound part声符shēngfú
fāngfáng
Same sound today

坊 is made of 土 (earth) beside 方 (fāng); 方 supplies the sound.

Open 坊 →

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