5 · 40 words
Planning a city
Districts and suburbs, roads and rail, pipes and parks, and what is pulled down to build them.
One syllable draws the map of a Chinese city: 区, “district”, in 城区, 郊区, 社区, 开发区. Planning language also compresses whole phrases into two syllables — 城建 is 城市建设, city construction — and a notice saying 拆迁 means that a building will be pulled down and its residents moved.
The words
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Verb (7)
通勤to commute; commutingVerb5
他每天通勤要花两个小时。He spends two hours a day commuting.
拆迁to demolish and relocateVerb5
这条老街明年要拆迁，居民会得到补偿。This old street is to be cleared next year, and the residents will receive compensation.
Two acts in one word: 拆, to pull down, and 迁, to move.
改造to convert; to rebuild; to transformVerb5
这座旧工厂被改造成了艺术中心。This old factory has been converted into an arts centre.
扩建to extend (a building or site)Verb5
机场正在扩建，明年会多一个航站楼。The airport is being extended, and next year it will have one more terminal.
供水to supply water; water supplyVerb5
因为修管道，明天上午暂停供水。Because of pipe repairs, the water will be off tomorrow morning.
The first syllable is gōng, “to supply”, as in 提供.
供暖to supply heating; heatingVerb5
北方的城市冬天集中供暖。Cities in the north are centrally heated in winter.
排水to drain; drainageVerb5
老城区的排水系统太旧了，一下大雨就积水。The drainage system in the old town is too old; whenever it rains hard, the streets flood.
Noun (28)
城市规划urban planning; town planningNoun5
好的城市规划要考虑几十年以后的需要。Good urban planning has to think about what will be needed decades from now.
基础设施infrastructureNoun5
这个新区的基础设施还不完善。The infrastructure in this new district is not yet complete.
设施facilitiesNoun4
小区里的健身设施都是免费的。The fitness facilities on the estate are all free to use.
公共交通public transportNoun5
政府鼓励市民多坐公共交通，少开车。The city government encourages people to use public transport more and drive less.
住房housingNoun4
年轻人在大城市最头疼的就是住房问题。For young people in big cities, housing is the biggest headache.
Housing as a need or a policy area; a single flat is a 房子.
高峰peak; rush hourNoun4
早高峰的地铁里挤得连手机都拿不出来。On the underground in the morning rush hour it is so crowded you cannot even get your phone out.
绿化planting of greenery; to make greenNoun5
街道两边种了很多树，城市绿化好多了。Many trees have been planted along the streets, and the city is much greener now.
绿地green spaceNoun5
新的规划在每个街区都留出了一块绿地。The new plan sets aside a patch of green space in every block.
社区community; neighbourhoodNoun4
社区每个月都为老人组织活动。The neighbourhood organises activities for older residents every month.
Also the local office that looks after a neighbourhood.
郊区suburbs; outskirtsNoun4
他们搬到了郊区，房子大了，上班却远了。They moved out to the suburbs: the house is bigger, but work is further away.
城区urban district; the town properNoun5
老城区的街道很窄，不适合开车。The streets in the old part of town are narrow and not suited to driving.
城中村urban villageNoun5
这片城中村的房租便宜，住着很多外地人。Rents are cheap in this urban village, and many people from other parts of the country live here.
A former village that the growing city has surrounded.
卫星城satellite townNoun5
为了减轻市中心的压力，政府在周围建了几座卫星城。To take pressure off the centre, the government built several satellite towns around it.
开发区development zoneNoun5
很多工厂都搬进了经济开发区。Many factories have moved into the economic development zone.
市政municipal administration; municipalNoun5
路灯坏了可以打市政热线。If a street lamp is broken, you can ring the council hotline.
城建urban constructionNoun5
他在城建部门工作，负责道路工程。He works in the city construction department and is in charge of road projects.
布局layout; arrangementNoun5
这座古城的布局像一个棋盘。The layout of this old city is like a chessboard.
用地land use; land (for a purpose)Noun5
这块地原来是工业用地，现在改成了住宅用地。This plot used to be zoned for industry and has now been changed to residential use.
密度densityNoun5
市中心的人口密度比郊区高得多。Population density in the city centre is much higher than in the suburbs.
街区block; neighbourhoodNoun5
这个街区有很多小咖啡馆和书店。There are lots of small cafés and bookshops in this neighbourhood.
环路ring roadNoun5
住在环路以外的人越来越多。More and more people live outside the ring road.
轻轨light railwayNoun5
轻轨通了以后，去机场只要半个小时。Since the light railway opened, it takes only half an hour to get to the airport.
自行车道cycle laneNoun5
这条路修了专门的自行车道，骑车安全多了。A separate cycle lane has been built on this road, and cycling is much safer.
停车位parking spaceNoun4
这附近很难找到停车位。It is very hard to find a parking space around here.
下水道sewer; drainNoun5
工人正在清理堵住的下水道。Workers are clearing the blocked sewer.
管道pipe; pipelineNoun5
天然气通过地下管道送到每家每户。Gas reaches every household through underground pipes.
摩天大楼skyscraperNoun5
这座摩天大楼的顶层是一个观景台。The top floor of this skyscraper is an observation deck.
Literally “a great building that rubs the sky”.
地标landmarkNoun5
这座桥已经成了这座城市的地标。This bridge has become the landmark of the city.
Adjective (5)
拥堵congested; congestionAdjective5
上下班时间这条路特别拥堵。This road is especially congested at rush hour.
The written word; in conversation 堵车.
宜居liveable; good to live inAdjective5
这座小城市安静、干净，非常宜居。This small city is quiet and clean, a very good place to live.
配套supporting; ancillary (facilities)Adjective5
新小区周围的配套设施还没有建好。The shops, schools and other amenities around the new estate are not finished yet.
Everything that has to come with housing: shops, schools, clinics, transport.
无障碍accessible; barrier-freeAdjective5
新的地铁站都有无障碍电梯。All the new underground stations have lifts for step-free access.
便民for the convenience of residentsAdjective5
小区门口开了一家便民超市。A small local supermarket has opened at the entrance to the estate.
On signs for services set up to make daily life easier: 便民服务.
This list belongs to Transport and travel — nine lists and 361 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.