都市 (dū shì) — city, metropolis | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

都市 (dūshì) means 'metropolis' — emphasizes a large, modern city, more impressive than 城市. 都会 is a close synonym but is more literary/written.

noun

citymetropolis

Measure word · 座

Examples

都市，。
dū shì De jiāo tōng hěn fāng biàn, dàn shì rén kǒu yě hěn duō.
Transportation in the city is very convenient, but the population is also large.
都市，。
Hěn duō nián qīng rén xuǎn zé dào dū shì gōng zuò, yīn wèi jī huì gèng duō.
Many young people choose to work in the metropolis because there are more opportunities.
都市，。
Zhù zài dū shì lǐ, shēng huó yā lì bǐ jiào dà.
Living in the city, the pressure of life is relatively high.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

都dōumetropolis

都市: 都 plus 市, a large 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.

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

兮兮xībustling

Sound part声符shēngfú

之

之zhī市shì

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

The old form 市 pairs 兮, meaning bustling, with 之, the sound part.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 City & Urban

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