Usage note
“乡”指农村或家乡，和城市不一样。
“Xiāng” zhǐ nóngcūn huò jiāxiāng, hé chéngshì bù yīyàng.
"Countryside" refers to rural areas or hometown, different from the city.
Context note
很多人住在城市，但他们的乡在别的地方。乡里有田野和小河。
Hěnduō rén zhù zài chéngshì, dàn tāmen de xiāng zài bié de dìfang. Xiāng lǐ yǒu tiányě hé xiǎo hé.
Many people live in the city, but their countryside is elsewhere. The countryside has fields and small rivers.
5 examples
我的乡在南方。
wǒ de xiāng zài nán fāng。
My countryside is in the south.
乡里的空气很新鲜。
xiāng lǐ de kōng qì hěn xīn xiān。
The air in the countryside is very fresh.
他喜欢去乡里玩。
tā xǐ huan qù xiāng lǐ wán。
He likes to go to the countryside to play.
乡里有很多小动物。
xiāng lǐ yǒu hěn duō xiǎo dòng wù。
There are many small animals in the countryside.
奶奶住在乡里。
nǎi nai zhù zài xiāng lǐ。
Grandma lives in the countryside.
5 mini stories
小刚暑假去乡里看爷爷。他看到了稻田。
xiǎo gāng shǔ jià qù xiāng lǐ kàn yé ye。 tā kàn dào le dào tián。
Xiao Gang went to the countryside to see grandpa during summer vacation. He saw rice fields.
乡里的小河很清澈。小华在里面捉鱼。
xiāng lǐ de xiǎo hé hěn qīng chè。 xiǎo huá zài lǐ miàn zhuō yú。
The small river in the countryside is very clear. Xiao Hua catches fish in it.
乡里的夜晚星星很多。小丽数星星。
xiāng lǐ de yè wǎn xīng xīng hěn duō。 xiǎo lì shù xīng xīng。
There are many stars in the countryside at night. Xiao Li counts stars.
妈妈小时候住在乡里。她喜欢那里的花。
mā ma xiǎo shí hòu zhù zài xiāng lǐ。 tā xǐ huan nà lǐ de huā。
Mom lived in the countryside when she was little. She liked the flowers there.
乡里的果园有苹果树。小明摘了一个苹果。
xiāng lǐ de guǒ yuán yǒu píng guǒ shù。 xiǎo míng zhāi le yí gè píng guǒ。
The orchard in the countryside has apple trees. Xiao Ming picked an apple.
Mini dialogue
回乡
A
你暑假回乡吗？
Nǐ shǔjià huí xiāng ma?
Are you going back to the countryside for summer vacation?
B
是的，我每年都回乡看爷爷奶奶。
Shì de, wǒ měinián dōu huí xiāng kàn yéye nǎinai.
Yes, I go back to the countryside every year to see my grandparents.
乡下的生活
A
乡下的空气真好。
Xiāngxià de kōngqì zhēn hǎo.
The air in the countryside is really good.
B
是啊，还有很多小动物。
Shì a, hái yǒu hěnduō xiǎo dòngwù.
Yes, and there are many small animals.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
城市
chéng shì
city
乡 (countryside) is the opposite of 城市 (city).
similar
农村
nóng cūn
village
农村 specifically means rural village, similar to 乡.
related
家乡
jiā xiāng
hometown
家乡 means hometown, which contains 乡.