Usage note
胡同表示老式的小巷。
hú tòng biǎo shì lǎo shì de xiǎo xiàng。
胡同 means an old-style narrow alley.
Context note
胡同常用于城市、历史和旅游。
hú tòng cháng yòng yú chéng shì 、 lì shǐ hé lǚ yóu。
It is often used with cities, history, and tourism.
5 examples
我们走进胡同。
wǒ men zǒu jìn hú tòng。
We walked into the alley.
胡同很安静。
hú tòng hěn ān jìng。
The alley is very quiet.
老北京有很多胡同。
lǎo běi jīng yǒu hěn duō hú tòng。
Old Beijing has many hutongs.
孩子们在胡同里玩。
hái zi men zài hú tòng lǐ wán。
The children are playing in the alley.
这条胡同很窄。
zhè tiáo hú tòng hěn zhǎi。
This alley is very narrow.
5 mini stories
老师带大家参观胡同。
lǎo shī dài dà jiā cān guān hú tòng。
The teacher took everyone to visit the hutong.
胡同里住着很多老人。
hú tòng lǐ zhù zhe hěn duō lǎo rén。
Many elderly people live in the alley.
他们在胡同口见面。
tā men zài hú tòng kǒu jiàn miàn。
They met at the entrance of the alley.
胡同里很有生活气息。
hú tòng lǐ hěn yǒu shēng huó qì xī。
The alley has a strong sense of everyday life.
他喜欢老胡同的感觉。
tā xǐ huan lǎo hú tòng de gǎn jué。
He likes the feeling of old hutongs.
Mini dialogue
找朋友家
A
你家在哪儿？
Nǐ jiā zài nǎr?
Where is your home?
B
就在前面那条胡同里。
Jiù zài qiánmiàn nà tiáo hútòng lǐ.
It's just in that alley up ahead.
一起玩
A
放学后我们去哪儿玩？
Fàngxué hòu wǒmen qù nǎr wán?
Where shall we play after school?
B
我们可以在安静的胡同里踢毽子。
Wǒmen kěyǐ zài ānjìng de hútòng lǐ tī jiànzi.
We can kick the shuttlecock in the quiet alley.
Related words and contrasts
similar
巷子
xiàng zi
alley, lane
巷子 is a general term for a narrow street or alley.
related
街道
jiē dào
street
街道 is a broader term for streets, while 胡同 is a specific type.
related
小路
xiǎo lù
path, lane
小路 means a small road or path, similar to an alley.
contrast
大街
dà jiē
main street, avenue
大街 is a wide main street, contrasting with narrow 胡同.