línjū: 邻居 - Neighbor, Neighborhood

• Keywords: linju, línjū, 邻居, Chinese word for neighbor, neighborhood in Chinese, Chinese neighbor relations, living next door in China, 远亲不如近邻, Chinese community
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 邻居 (línjū), which means “neighbor.” This page explores not just the direct translation, but the deep cultural significance of neighborly relations in China, from the traditional ideal of mutual support expressed in the proverb “远亲不如近邻” (a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor) to the realities of modern urban living. Understand how to use 邻居 in everyday conversation, its character breakdown, and related concepts that will help you navigate social life in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): línjū
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A person who lives near or next to another; a neighbor.
• In a Nutshell: 邻居 (línjū) is the direct and most common word for “neighbor.” While it simply identifies the people living next to you, the term is deeply rooted in a cultural ideal of community and mutual assistance. In China, having a good relationship with your 邻居 can be very important, as they are the people you can rely on for immediate help.

• 邻 (lín): This character means “neighbor” or “adjacent.” It's composed of two parts. The left side, 阝(fù), is a radical that often relates to a city or place. The right side, 令 (lìng), provides the sound. Together, they signify a place adjacent to yours.
• 居 (jū): This character means “to live,” “to reside,” or “residence.” It pictorially represents a person 尸 (shī) in a dwelling 古 (gǔ), signifying the act of living somewhere.
• When combined, 邻居 (línjū) literally means “adjacent residence” or, more naturally, the people who reside adjacent to you.

The concept of a 邻居 in China is traditionally more significant than in many individualistic Western cultures. The foundation of this is the famous proverb: 远亲不如近邻 (yuǎnqīn bùrú jìnlín), which translates to “A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor.” This proverb highlights a core value in Chinese society: practicality and mutual support within the immediate community. In times of emergency, sickness, or need, it's your neighbor—not your family member who lives in another city—who can offer immediate help. This could be anything from borrowing some salt, accepting a package, or watching your child for a few minutes. While this ideal is strongest in traditional settings like rural villages or older urban alleys (胡同 - hútòng), it still holds relevance today. However, in the massive, anonymous apartment complexes of modern Chinese megacities, relationships between neighbors can be more distant, similar to Western urban life. Many people lament the loss of this close-knit “邻里关系” (línlǐ guānxì - neighborly relations), but the underlying cultural expectation of what a good neighbor should be remains.

邻居 (línjū) is a common, neutral term used in everyday conversation.

• Referring to People: You use it to talk about the people who live in the apartment next to, above, or below you, or in the house next door.
• As a Form of Address: It's polite and friendly to refer to an unfamiliar neighbor directly as “邻居”. For example, when you meet them in the elevator, you can say, “邻居, 您好!” (línjū, nín hǎo!) - “Hello, neighbor!”
• Discussing Relationships: The term is central to discussions about community life. People often talk about having “好邻居” (hǎo línjū - a good neighbor) or complain about a “坏邻居” (huài línjū - a bad neighbor), for instance, one who is too noisy.

The connotation of the word itself is neutral; it's the adjectives you use with it that define the relationship.

• Example 1:
  • 这是我的新邻居，王先生。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ de xīn línjū, Wáng xiānsheng.
  • English: This is my new neighbor, Mr. Wang.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct introduction. This is one of the most common ways you'll use the word.
• Example 2:
  • 我的邻居非常友好，经常帮我收快递。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de línjū fēicháng yǒuhǎo, jīngcháng bāng wǒ shōu kuàidì.
  • English: My neighbor is very friendly and often helps me receive packages.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a practical aspect of modern neighborly relations in China, where package delivery is extremely common.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，我的邻居晚上有点吵。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ de línjū wǎnshang yǒudiǎn chǎo.
  • English: Sorry, my neighbor is a bit noisy at night.
  • Analysis: A common complaint in high-density apartment living. The phrase 有点 (yǒudiǎn) softens the complaint, making it less confrontational.
• Example 4:
  • 中国有句老话叫“远亲不如近邻居”。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó yǒu jù lǎohuà jiào “yuǎnqīn bùrú jìn línjū”.
  • English: There is an old Chinese saying, “A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor.”
  • Analysis: This directly uses the famous proverb to explain the cultural value placed on good neighbors.
• Example 5:
  • 邻居们周末常常在小区里一起聊天。
  • Pinyin: Línjūmen zhōumò chángcháng zài xiǎoqū lǐ yīqǐ liáotiān.
  • English: The neighbors often chat together in the residential community on weekends.
  • Analysis: Shows the plural form using 们 (men) and describes a common community activity.
• Example 6:
  • 你能帮我问问邻居，看他们有没有糖吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ wènwen línjū, kàn tāmen yǒu méiyǒu táng ma?
  • English: Can you help me ask the neighbor if they have any sugar?
  • Analysis: A classic example of the small, mutual favors that define a good neighborly relationship.
• Example 7:
  • 我们的邻居是一对刚退休的老夫妇。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de línjū shì yī duì gāng tuìxiū de lǎo fūfù.
  • English: Our neighbors are a newly retired elderly couple.
  • Analysis: A simple descriptive sentence used to give information about who lives next door.
• Example 8:
  • 和邻居搞好关系很重要。
  • Pinyin: Hé línjū gǎohǎo guānxì hěn zhòngyào.
  • English: It's very important to have a good relationship with your neighbors.
  • Analysis: 搞好关系 (gǎohǎo guānxì) is a very common and useful phrase meaning “to build/maintain a good relationship with someone.”
• Example 9:
  • 楼上的邻居总是在半夜搬家具。
  • Pinyin: Lóu shàng de línjū zǒngshì zài bànyè bān jiājù.
  • English: The upstairs neighbor is always moving furniture in the middle of the night.
  • Analysis: This specifies the location of the neighbor (楼上 - lóu shàng, upstairs) and is a typical complaint.
• Example 10:
  • 邻居，您先请！
  • Pinyin: Línjū, nín xiān qǐng!
  • English: Neighbor, you first, please! (After you!)
  • Analysis: Demonstrates using 邻居 (línjū) as a direct, polite form of address to someone you don't know by name but recognize from your building.

• Person vs. Place: 邻居 (línjū) almost always refers to the person. While you might occasionally hear it used loosely to mean “neighborhood,” it's not standard. For “neighborhood” or “community,” you should use words like 小区 (xiǎoqū) or 附近 (fùjìn).
  • Incorrect: 我住在个好邻居。(Wǒ zhù zài ge hǎo línjū.) - “I live in a good neighbor.”
  • Correct: 我住在一个好小区。(Wǒ zhù zài yī ge hǎo xiǎoqū.) - “I live in a good residential community.”
  • Correct: 我的邻居很好。(Wǒ de línjū hěn hǎo.) - “My neighbors are very good.”
• False Friend: “Neighborhood”: Don't use 邻居 (línjū) to translate the abstract concept of “neighborhood” as in “the neighborhood is changing.” 邻居 refers to the people. Use 附近 (fùjìn) (“nearby area”) or 这一带 (zhè yī dài) (“this area”) instead.

• 远亲不如近邻 (yuǎnqīn bùrú jìnlín): The foundational proverb, “A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor.” Essential for understanding the cultural ideal.
• 隔壁 (gébì): Literally “next wall,” meaning “next door.” It's more specific than 邻居. You can say “隔壁的邻居” (the neighbor next door).
• 小区 (xiǎoqū): A residential complex or gated community. This is the modern physical context for most urban neighbors in China.
• 邻里 (línlǐ): A more formal or literary term for “neighborhood” or the collective community of neighbors. Often used in the phrase “邻里关系” (neighborly relations).
• 街坊 (jiēfang): A more colloquial and somewhat dated term for neighbors, especially those living on the same street or in the same alleyway. It implies a closer, more familiar relationship.
• 附近 (fùjìn): (Adverb/Noun) Nearby, in the vicinity. Refers to the area, not the people.
• 住户 (zhùhù): Resident or household. A more administrative or formal term used by property management or in official documents.
• 邻国 (línguó): Neighboring country. This shows how the character 邻 (lín) is used to mean “adjacent” in other contexts.