How common it is
县 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say xiàn slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
“县”是中国的一个地方行政区域，比城市小，比乡镇大。每个县都有自己的名字。
“Xiàn” shì Zhōngguó de yīgè dìfāng xíngzhèng qūyù, bǐ chéngshì xiǎo, bǐ xiāngzhèn dà. Měi gè xiàn dōu yǒu zìjǐ de míngzì.
“县” is a local administrative area in China, smaller than a city and larger than a town. Each county has its own name.
Context note
在中国，很多地方都有县。比如，一个省下面有很多县。县里有很多村庄和学校。
Zài Zhōngguó, hěnduō dìfāng dōu yǒu xiàn. Bǐrú, yīgè shěng xiàmiàn yǒu hěnduō xiàn. Xiàn lǐ yǒu hěnduō cūnzhuāng hé xuéxiào.
In China, many places have counties. For example, a province has many counties. There are many villages and schools in a county.
5 examples
我的家乡在一个小县里。
wǒ de jiā xiāng zài yí gè xiǎo xiàn lǐ。
My hometown is in a small county.
这个县有很多美丽的山。
zhè ge xiàn yǒu hěn duō měi lì de shān。
This county has many beautiful mountains.
我们县里有一个很大的图书馆。
wǒ men xiàn lǐ yǒu yí gè hěn dà de tú shū guǎn。
There is a very big library in our county.
他住在隔壁的县，离这里不远。
tā zhù zài gé bì de xiàn， lí zhè lǐ bù yuǎn。
He lives in the neighboring county, not far from here.
这个县以苹果闻名。
zhè ge xiàn yǐ píng guǒ wén míng。
This county is famous for apples.
5 mini stories
小华住在幸福县。幸福县里有一个大公园，孩子们喜欢在那里玩。
xiǎo huá zhù zài xìng fú xiàn。 xìng fú xiàn lǐ yǒu yí gè dà gōng yuán， hái zi men xǐ huan zài nà lǐ wán。
Xiao Hua lives in Happiness County. There is a big park in Happiness County, and children like to play there.
这个县每年都举办丰收节。大家在一起唱歌跳舞，非常热闹。
zhè ge xiàn měi nián dōu jǔ bàn fēng shōu jié。 dà jiā zài yì qǐ chàng gē tiào wǔ， fēi cháng rè nào。
This county holds a harvest festival every year. Everyone sings and dances together, very lively.
我们县里的小学有很多学生。他们每天一起学习，一起玩耍。
wǒ men xiàn lǐ de xiǎo xué yǒu hěn duō xué shēng。 tā men měi tiān yì qǐ xué xí， yì qǐ wán shuǎ。
The elementary school in our county has many students. They study and play together every day.
奶奶住在另一个县。我放假的时候会坐车去看她。
nǎi nai zhù zài lìng yí gè xiàn。 wǒ fàng jià de shí hòu huì zuò chē qù kàn tā。
Grandma lives in another county. I take a bus to visit her during holidays.
这个县有一条清澈的小河。夏天的时候，孩子们在河边捉小鱼。
zhè ge xiàn yǒu yì tiáo qīng chè de xiǎo hé。 xià tiān de shí hòu， hái zi men zài hé biān zhuō xiǎo yú。
This county has a clear small river. In summer, children catch small fish by the river.