Keywords: lukou, lùkǒu, 路口, Chinese intersection, Chinese crossroads, street corner in Chinese, how to say intersection in Chinese, what is lukou, HSK2 vocabulary, giving directions in Chinese, 十字路口, shizi lukou
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 路口 (lùkǒu), meaning “intersection” or “crossroads.” This page breaks down its simple characters, 路 (lù - road) and 口 (kǒu - mouth), to reveal its literal meaning. Discover how to use 路口 in everyday situations like asking for directions, navigating a Chinese city, and understanding traffic. We'll also explore the difference between the general term 路口 and the more specific 十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu), which is used for both four-way intersections and life's metaphorical “crossroads.”
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): lùkǒu
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 2
Concise Definition: A place where two or more roads cross or meet; an intersection.
In a Nutshell:路口 (lùkǒu) is the fundamental, everyday word for any kind of road intersection. It's one of the first words you'll need to learn to get around in China, whether you're walking, taking a taxi, or looking at a map. Think of it as the default term for “the place where streets meet.”
Character Breakdown
路 (lù): This character means “road,” “path,” or “way.” Its left part, the radical `足` (zú), means “foot,” vividly connecting the character to the act of walking or traveling along a path.
口 (kǒu): This character literally means “mouth” and, by extension, can refer to an “opening,” “entrance,” or “exit.”
When combined, 路口 (lùkǒu) literally translates to “road mouth” or “road opening.” This is a beautifully intuitive image: an intersection is simply where one road “opens up” into another.
Cultural Context and Significance
The Practical vs. The Metaphorical Crossroads: In English, “crossroads” is used both for a physical intersection and for a critical decision point in life. In Chinese, this distinction is clearer. 路口 (lùkǒu) is almost exclusively used for the physical, literal intersection of roads. It's a functional, pragmatic term essential for the concrete task of navigation in often complex and sprawling urban environments.
Comparison to Western Concepts: The term for a metaphorical “crossroads” in Chinese is usually 十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu). 十字 (shízì) means the character “ten” (十), which looks exactly like a plus sign or a classic four-way intersection. When someone says they are at `人生的十字路口 (rénshēng de shízì lùkǒu)`, it means they are “at the crossroads of life.” This highlights a key cultural difference: while English uses the same word for both contexts, Chinese often uses a more specific and visually descriptive term for the metaphorical idea. Using the simple 路口 (lùkǒu) to talk about a life decision would sound odd and be misunderstood.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Giving and Asking for Directions: This is the most common use of 路口 (lùkǒu). It's indispensable for telling a taxi driver where to stop, asking a pedestrian for help, or understanding directions from a navigation app. You'll frequently hear it combined with words like `下 (xià)` (next), `左 (zuǒ)` (left), and `右 (yòu)` (right).
“At the next intersection, please turn right.” → `在下一个路口请向右拐。 (Zài xià yí ge lùkǒu qǐng xiàng yòu guǎi.)`
Traffic and Navigation:路口 (lùkǒu) is the center of action for traffic. You wait for a `红绿灯 (hónglǜdēng)` (traffic light) at a 路口, cross the street at a 路口, and might encounter traffic jams (`堵车 dǔchē`) at a busy 路口.
Describing Locations: It is a key landmark for describing where a building is.
“The bank is right at that intersection.” → `银行就在那个路口。(Yínháng jiù zài nàge lùkǒu.)`
Example Sentences
Example 1:
你好，请问下一个路口有银行吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn xià yí ge lùkǒu yǒu yínháng ma?
English: Hello, excuse me, is there a bank at the next intersection?
Analysis: A classic and polite way to ask for directions. `下一个 (xià yí ge)` means “the next one,” a crucial phrase to use with 路口.
Example 2:
师傅，请在前面的路口停车。
Pinyin: Shīfu, qǐng zài qiánmiàn de lùkǒu tíngchē.
English: Driver, please stop at the intersection ahead.
Analysis: `师傅 (shīfu)` is a polite way to address a driver. This is a very practical sentence for taking a taxi.
Example 3:
到第二个路口向左拐，你就能看到地铁站了。
Pinyin: Dào dì-èr ge lùkǒu xiàng zuǒ guǎi, nǐ jiù néng kàndào dìtiězhàn le.
English: At the second intersection, turn left, and you'll see the subway station.
Analysis: This demonstrates how to give clear, step-by-step directions using ordinal numbers (`第二 dì-èr`) with 路口.
Example 4:
这个路口的交通总是很拥挤。
Pinyin: Zhè ge lùkǒu de jiāotōng zǒngshì hěn yōngjǐ.
English: The traffic at this intersection is always very congested.
Analysis: This sentence describes the state of a 路口, connecting it to the concept of `交通 (jiāotōng)` (traffic).
Example 5:
我们在咖啡店旁边的那个路口见面吧。
Pinyin: Wǒmen zài kāfēidiàn pángbiān de nàge lùkǒu jiànmiàn ba.
English: Let's meet at the intersection next to the coffee shop.
Analysis: Shows how to use 路口 as a landmark or meeting point.
English: Be careful when crossing the street, especially when going through a busy intersection.
Analysis: `繁忙的 (fánmáng de)` means “busy” and is a common adjective for 路口.
Example 7:
这是一个十字路口，不是丁字路口。
Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge shízì lùkǒu, búshì dīngzì lùkǒu.
English: This is a four-way intersection (crossroads), not a T-junction.
Analysis: This directly contrasts the more specific `十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu)` with another type of intersection, highlighting the nuance. 路口 is the general category.
Example 8:
大学毕业后，他站在了人生的十字路口，不知道该选择工作还是考研。
Pinyin: Dàxué bìyè hòu, tā zhàn zài le rénshēng de shízì lùkǒu, bù zhīdào gāi xuǎnzé gōngzuò háishì kǎoyán.
English: After graduating from university, he stood at the crossroads of life, not knowing whether to choose a job or go to graduate school.
Analysis: This is the classic metaphorical usage. Note that it requires 十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu), not just 路口.
Example 9:
每个路口都安装了新的红绿灯。
Pinyin: Měi ge lùkǒu dōu ānzhuāng le xīn de hónglǜdēng.
English: New traffic lights have been installed at every intersection.
Analysis: Shows the use of `每个 (měi ge)` (every) with 路口.
Example 10:
警察正在路口指挥交通。
Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài lùkǒu zhǐhuī jiāotōng.
English: The police officer is directing traffic at the intersection.
Analysis: A common sight in busy Chinese cities, this sentence places an action (directing traffic) at the location of the 路口.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`路口 (lùkǒu)` vs. `拐角 (guǎijiǎo)`: This is a common point of confusion for English speakers.
路口 (lùkǒu) refers to the entire intersection area where roads cross.
拐角 (guǎijiǎo) means “corner,” referring to the specific 90-degree angle of the sidewalk or building.
Incorrect: `我们在路口等 (Wǒmen zài lùkǒu děng)` is vague. It means “We are waiting in the intersection,” which is dangerous!
Correct: `我们在路口的拐角等 (Wǒmen zài lùkǒu de guǎijiǎo děng)` is precise. It means “We are waiting on the corner of the intersection.”
Don't Use `路口` for Metaphors: As mentioned, using 路口 for a life decision is a mistake. It will sound like you're literally standing in the middle of a road. Always use the more literary 十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu) for this metaphorical meaning.
General vs. Specific Intersections: While 路口 is the all-purpose term, be aware of its more specific cousins:
十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu): A four-way intersection (like 十).
丁字路口 (dīngzì lùkǒu): A T-junction (shaped like the character 丁).
Using the general term 路口 is always safe if you are unsure of the specific type.
Related Terms and Concepts
十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu) - A four-way intersection (“cross-shape intersection”), also used metaphorically for “crossroads in life.”
丁字路口 (dīngzì lùkǒu) - A T-junction (“T-shape intersection”).
拐角 (guǎijiǎo) - The physical “corner” of a street, as opposed to the entire intersection.
红绿灯 (hónglǜdēng) - “Red-green light”; the traffic light commonly found at a 路口.
拐弯 (guǎiwān) - Verb: “to turn a corner,” the primary action one takes at a 路口 besides going straight.
直走 (zhí zǒu) - Verb: “to go straight,” the opposite of turning at a 路口.
马路 (mǎlù) - “Horse road”; the common word for street or road. A 路口 is where two or more `马路` meet.
人行横道 (rénxíng héngdào) - “Pedestrian crosswalk,” the designated place for people to cross at a 路口.
方向 (fāngxiàng) - “Direction,” the core concept you're dealing with when navigating using 路口 as landmarks.
附近 (fùjìn) - “Nearby,” often used in questions like `这个路口附近有…吗？` (Is there a … near this intersection?).