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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "downtown" in Chinese?
市中心
shì zhōng xīn
In Chinese, "downtown" is 市中心 (shì zhōng xīn).
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Pronunciation
The pinyin "shì zhōng xīn" takes fourth tone, then first tone, then first tone, meaning snapping downward fast, like giving a short order; then the next syllable is held flat and steady, almost like humming one note.
Writing and usage
市中心 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
她在市中心靠近河边工作。
tā zài shì zhōng xīn kào jìn hé biān gōng zuò 。
She works downtown near the river.
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How to remember 市中心
A quick anchor: the scene from "She works downtown near the river", then say "shì zhōng xīn" out loud.
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 市中心
How do you pronounce 市中心?
The pinyin "shì zhōng xīn" takes fourth tone, then first tone, then first tone, meaning snapping downward fast, like giving a short order; then the next syllable is held flat and steady, almost like humming one note.
Is 市中心 formal or casual?
市中心 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 市中心 used in Chinese?
市中心 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 她在市中心靠近河边工作。 (She works downtown near the river.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"Downtown" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
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