línjū: 邻居 - Neighbor

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• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for neighbor, 邻居 (línjū). This guide goes beyond a simple translation, exploring the deep cultural significance of neighborly relationships in China, epitomized by the saying “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.” Understand how to use 邻居 (línjū) in practical, everyday conversations, from living in a modern apartment complex to understanding traditional community values.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): línjū
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A person living next door or very near to the speaker; a neighbor.
• In a Nutshell: While 邻居 (línjū) directly translates to “neighbor,” the term carries a warmer, more communal expectation than its English counterpart. In Chinese culture, a good neighbor is considered an essential part of one's support system, a source of daily help and companionship. The relationship is ideally less about privacy and more about mutual reliance and harmony.

• 邻 (lín): This character means “neighbor” or “near.” The left part, 阝(a form of 邑, yì), is a radical that often relates to a city or locality. The right part provides the sound. Think of the 阝 radical as representing a “place,” so 邻 refers to someone in a nearby place.
• 居 (jū): This character means “to reside,” “to live,” or “to dwell.” It's a pictograph of a person (尸, an old form for a person) under a roof.

When combined, 邻居 (línjū) literally means “nearby-dweller,” a very logical and clear construction for the word “neighbor.”

The concept of the 邻居 (línjū) is deeply ingrained in Chinese social fabric, best captured by the famous proverb: 远亲不如近邻 (yuǎnqīn bùrú jìnlín) — “A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor.” In contrast to the emphasis on privacy and individualism in many Western cultures, traditional Chinese society valued community and mutual support. Your 邻居 was your first line of defense in an emergency, the person you could ask for a cup of vinegar, and someone to watch your home when you were away. This created a strong sense of 邻里关系 (línlǐ guānxì), or “neighborly relations.” While rapid urbanization and life in massive, anonymous apartment buildings (小区, xiǎoqū) have changed the dynamic, this traditional ideal still influences expectations. Being a “good neighbor” in China often involves a greater degree of interaction—sharing food, helping with packages, and making small talk in the elevator—than might be typical in an American suburb. The underlying value is community harmony over personal space.

In modern China, 邻居 (línjū) is used frequently in everyday life.

• In Apartment Buildings: Your 邻居 (línjū) could be anyone on your floor or even in your entire building. You might refer to the person in the apartment directly next to you as 隔壁邻居 (gébì línjū), “next-door neighbor.”
• Informal Interactions: It's common to greet your 邻居 (línjū) with a nod or a “Have you eaten?” (你吃了吗? Nǐ chīle ma?), ask them for small favors, or engage in casual chats.
• Connotation: The word has a warm, neutral-to-positive connotation. Calling someone your 邻居 establishes a potential bond. Describing someone as a 好邻居 (hǎo línjū), or “good neighbor,” is a high compliment.

• Example 1:
  • 我的邻居是一个很友好的人。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de línjū shì yīgè hěn yǒuhǎo de rén.
  • English: My neighbor is a very friendly person.
  • Analysis: A basic and common sentence for describing your neighbor. This is a great way to practice simple sentence structure.
• Example 2:
  • 你能帮我跟邻居说一声，让他们小点儿声吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ gēn línjū shuō yīshēng, ràng tāmen xiǎo diǎnr shēng ma?
  • English: Can you help me tell the neighbors to be a little quieter?
  • Analysis: This shows a common real-world scenario. Note the use of 跟 (gēn)… 说 (shuō), meaning “to say to” or “to tell.”
• Example 3:
  • 我们刚搬来，还不认识我们的邻居。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gāng bān lái