Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== shí zì lù kǒu: 十字路口 - Crossroads, Intersection ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 十字路口, shi zi lu kou, shizilukou, Chinese crossroads, Chinese intersection, figurative crossroads, life crossroads, standing at a crossroads in Chinese, making a decision in Chinese. * **Summary:** 十字路口 (shí zì lù kǒu) is a fundamental Chinese noun that literally means "crossroads" or "intersection," referring to where two roads cross. Its meaning extends metaphorically, just like in English, to describe being at a crucial "crossroads in life" where a significant decision must be made. Understanding this term is essential for both navigating Chinese city streets and discussing important life choices. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shí zì lù kǒu * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** A four-way road intersection; a crucial turning point in life or a process. * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine the character for the number ten: 十 (shí). It looks exactly like a cross. `十字路口` literally translates to a "ten-character-shaped road-opening." It's a highly visual and logical word for a physical four-way intersection. Because of this clear imagery of branching paths, it's also the perfect metaphor for a moment in life when you face multiple choices and must decide which path to take. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **十 (shí):** The character for the number ten. Visually, it is a simple cross, which is the key image for this word. * **字 (zì):** The character for "character" or "word." Here, it combines with `十` to mean "in the shape of the character ten" or "cross-shaped." * **路 (lù):** The character for "road," "path," or "way." * **口 (kǒu):** The character for "mouth" or "opening." In geographic terms, it often refers to an entrance, exit, or junction. When you put them together, `十字路口` (shí zì lù kǒu) literally means a "cross-shaped road junction," a perfect description of a standard four-way intersection. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of being "at a crossroads" is universal, but its application in a Chinese context can reflect specific cultural pressures and life stages. * **Literal Context (Urban Life):** With China's rapid urbanization, the `十字路口` is a symbol of modern city life. It's a place of constant motion, noise, and negotiation between cars, e-bikes, pedestrians, and buses. For a foreigner, successfully navigating a busy Chinese `十字路口` can feel like a small victory and a deep dive into the controlled chaos of daily urban life. * **Metaphorical Context (Life Decisions):** While the metaphor is similar to the West, the //types// of crossroads are often culturally specific. Major life `十字路口` moments for many Chinese people include: * The grueling `高考 (gāokǎo)` (college entrance exam), which determines university and future career paths. * The decision to work in a Tier-1 city like Beijing or Shanghai versus returning to one's hometown (`回家乡`). * Pressure to marry and start a family by a certain age. * Choosing between a stable government job (the "iron rice bowl" `铁饭碗`) and a riskier but potentially more lucrative private sector career. These decisions are often made with heavy consideration for family expectations and societal norms, making the personal `十字路口` a moment that is deeply intertwined with collective and filial responsibilities. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `十字路口` is used frequently in both literal and figurative senses. * **Giving and Asking for Directions:** This is the most common, everyday usage. It's a neutral and practical term. * e.g., "Go straight through two intersections." `往前走，过两个十字路口。` * **Describing Life Choices:** In conversation, literature, and media, it's used to add a sense of weight or drama to a decision. It's the go-to phrase for expressing a significant turning point. * e.g., "I feel like my career is at a crossroads." `我感觉我的事业走到了一个十字路口。` * **In Business and Strategy:** Companies and organizations can also be described as being at a `十字路口`, needing to make a critical decision about their future direction. * e.g., "Our company is at a strategic crossroads." `我们公司正处在一个战略的十字路口。` ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 在前面的**十字路口**向右转。 * Pinyin: Zài qiánmiàn de **shí zì lù kǒu** xiàng yòu zhuǎn. * English: Turn right at the next crossroads. * Analysis: A very common and practical sentence for giving directions. `向右转 (xiàng yòu zhuǎn)` means "turn right." * **Example 2:** * 这个**十字路口**的交通总是很拥挤。 * Pinyin: Zhège **shí zì lù kǒu** de jiāotōng zǒngshì hěn yōngjǐ. * English: The traffic at this intersection is always very congested. * Analysis: This sentence describes the state of a physical intersection. `拥挤 (yōngjǐ)` is a great word for "crowded" or "congested." * **Example 3:** * 大学毕业后，我的人生走到了一个重要的**十字路口**。 * Pinyin: Dàxué bìyè hòu, wǒ de rénshēng zǒudào le yí ge zhòngyào de **shí zì lù kǒu**. * English: After graduating from university, my life came to an important crossroads. * Analysis: A classic metaphorical use. It links a major life event (graduation) to the feeling of facing a big decision. * **Example 4:** * 我们公司的发展正处在一个**十字路口**，需要做出正确的选择。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de fāzhǎn zhèng chǔ zài yí ge **shí zì lù kǒu**, xūyào zuòchū zhèngquè de xuǎnzé. * English: Our company's development is at a crossroads; we need to make the right choice. * Analysis: Shows the term's use in a formal, business context. `处在 (chǔ zài)` means "to be situated at." * **Example 5:** * 站在人生的**十字路口**，他感到非常迷茫。 * Pinyin: Zhàn zài rénshēng de **shí zì lù kǒu**, tā gǎndào fēicháng mímáng. * English: Standing at the crossroads of life, he felt very lost and confused. * Analysis: This sentence connects the metaphorical crossroads with the emotion it often causes: `迷茫 (mímáng)`, or confusion. * **Example 6:** * 请问，到最近的地铁站需要经过几个**十字路口**？ * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, dào zuìjìn de dìtiězhàn xūyào jīngguò jǐ ge **shí zì lù kǒu**? * English: Excuse me, how many intersections do I need to pass to get to the nearest subway station? * Analysis: A practical question for asking directions. `经过 (jīngguò)` means "to pass through." * **Example 7:** * 警察正在调查**十字路口**发生的交通事故。 * Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài diàochá **shí zì lù kǒu** fāshēng de jiāotōng shìgù. * English: The police are investigating the traffic accident that happened at the intersection. * Analysis: A neutral, descriptive sentence often heard in news reports. * **Example 8:** * 他们的关系走到了**十字路口**，要么分手，要么结婚。 * Pinyin: Tāmen de guānxì zǒudào le **shí zì lù kǒu**, yàome fēnshǒu, yàome jiéhūn. * English: Their relationship has reached a crossroads: either break up or get married. * Analysis: This uses the `要么...要么... (yàome...yàome...)` structure for "either...or..." to clearly define the choices at the crossroads. * **Example 9:** * 每个人的青春都会遇到迷茫的**十字路口**。 * Pinyin: Měi ge rén de qīngchūn dōu huì yùdào mímáng de **shí zì lù kǒu**. * English: Everyone will encounter a confusing crossroads during their youth. * Analysis: A more philosophical or literary statement about a universal life experience. * **Example 10:** * 你看，地图上这里是一个**十字路口**。 * Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, dìtú shang zhèlǐ shì yí ge **shí zì lù kǒu**. * English: Look, here on the map is a crossroads. * Analysis: A simple, declarative sentence perfect for a beginner, pointing out the literal meaning on a map. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **十字路口 vs. 路口 (lùkǒu):** * `路口 (lùkǒu)` is the general term for any kind of intersection or junction where roads meet. * `十字路口 (shí zì lù kǒu)` specifically refers to a four-way intersection that forms a cross shape. * **Common Mistake:** Using `十字路口` to describe a T-junction. For a T-junction, the correct term is `丁字路口 (dīng zì lù kǒu)`, as it resembles the character `丁`. While people will understand you if you use the general term `路口`, being precise shows a higher level of fluency. * **十字路口 vs. 交叉口 (jiāochā kǒu):** * `交叉口 (jiāochā kǒu)` means "intersection point" and is a more technical or formal term. You might see it on traffic signs or in engineering documents. * In everyday spoken Chinese, `十字路口` (for a four-way) and `路口` (in general) are far more common. A beginner should stick to these. * **Metaphorical Usage:** The metaphor is very close to the English "crossroads," so there are few "false friend" issues. The key is to remember that it implies a //major// decision point, not a minor, everyday choice. You wouldn't say you're at a `十字路口` when deciding what to eat for lunch. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[路口]] (lùkǒu) - The general term for any road intersection. `十字路口` is a specific type of `路口`. * [[丁字路口]] (dīng zì lù kǒu) - A T-junction, so-named because it looks like the character `丁`. * [[转折点]] (zhuǎnzhédiǎn) - A turning point. This is a very close synonym for the metaphorical meaning of `十字路口`. * [[岔路口]] (chàlùkǒu) - A fork in the road. * [[红绿灯]] (hónglǜdēng) - Traffic light (literally "red-green-light"), almost always found at a busy `十字路口`. * [[拐角]] (guǎijiǎo) - A street corner; the corner of a building. * [[迷茫]] (mímáng) - The feeling of being lost, perplexed, or confused, often experienced when one is at a life `十字路口`. * [[选择]] (xuǎnzé) - To choose; a choice. This is the action one must take at a `十字路口`. * [[方向]] (fāngxiàng) - Direction. At a crossroads, you must choose a new direction, both literally and figuratively.