Chinese word

栋

Pronunciation

Pinyindòng

Meaning

  • measure wordbuilding

Example

小区里有三栋楼。xiǎo qū lǐ yǒu sān dòng lóu

There are three buildings in the residential complex.

Illustration for 栋 (building)

More examples

公司旁边有两栋办公楼。gōng sī páng biān yǒu liǎng dòng bàn gōng lóu

There are two office buildings next to the company.

Core concept

One counted unit that includes an entire building from its base to its roof.

Common phrases

  • 两栋办公楼liǎng dòng bàn gōng lóu

    two office buildings

  • 整栋别墅zhěng dòng bié shù

    an entire villa

  • 每栋住宅měi dòng zhù zhái

    each residential building

Similar words

幢chuáng: Counts a complete building enclosed by its walls and roof.
座zuò: Counts large, fixed structures and buildings.
层céng: Counts the floors or levels of a building.
套tào: Counts dwellings, furniture, or other things arranged as a complete set.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示建筑单位的量词，侧重计数独立的住宅或楼宇的整栋数量，常见用法如“小区里有三栋楼”。yòng yú biǎo shì jiàn zhù dān wèi de liàng cí cè zhòng jì shù dú lì de zhù zhái huò lóu yǔ de zhěng dòng shù liàng cháng jiàn yòng fǎ rú xiǎo qū lǐ yǒu sān dòng lóu

Word origin

The character 栋 (dòng, "building") first referred to the main roof beam, a wooden part that supports the structure, and later came to represent the complete building.

Usage tips

  • In everyday housing talk, this classifier helps make clear that the count refers to separate structures rather than individual homes within them.

Related words

Word lists with this word