Life in a Courtyard House

在北京的胡同里，至今还保留着不少传统的四合院。

Zài (fourth tone, falling) Běijīng (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) hútòng (second tone, rising) li, (neutral tone) zhìjīn (fourth tone, falling) hái (second tone, rising) bǎoliú (third tone, dipping) zhe (neutral tone) bù (fourth tone, falling) shǎo (third tone, dipping) chuántǒng (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) sìhéyuàn. (fourth tone, falling)

In the hutongs of Beijing, many traditional siheyuan, or courtyard houses, survive to this day.

所谓“四合院”，就是东、西、南、北四面都有房子，中间是一个院子的建筑。

Suǒwèi (third tone, dipping) “sìhéyuàn”, (fourth tone, falling) jiù (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) dōng, (first tone, high and level) xī, (first tone, high and level) nán, (second tone, rising) běi (third tone, dipping) sì (fourth tone, falling) miàn (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) yǒu (third tone, dipping) fángzi, (second tone, rising) zhōngjiān (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) jiànzhù. (fourth tone, falling)

A “siheyuan” is a building with houses on all four sides, east, west, south and north, and a courtyard in the middle.

从外面看，四合院四周都是高高的墙，只有一个大门通向胡同，显得十分封闭；可是一走进去，就会发现里面是另一个世界：安静、明亮，充满了生活的味道。

Cóng (second tone, rising) wàimiàn (fourth tone, falling) kàn, (fourth tone, falling) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) sìzhōu (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) gāogāo (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) qiáng, (second tone, rising) zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) dàmén (fourth tone, falling) tōngxiàng (first tone, high and level) hútòng, (second tone, rising) xiǎnde (third tone, dipping) shífēn (second tone, rising) fēngbì; (first tone, high and level) kěshì (third tone, dipping) yì (fourth tone, falling) zǒu (third tone, dipping) jìnqù, (fourth tone, falling) jiù (fourth tone, falling) huì (fourth tone, falling) fāxiàn (first tone, high and level) lǐmiàn (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) lìng (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) shìjiè: (fourth tone, falling) ānjìng, (first tone, high and level) míngliàng, (second tone, rising) chōngmǎn (first tone, high and level) le (neutral tone) shēnghuó (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) wèidao. (fourth tone, falling)

From outside, a siheyuan is surrounded by high walls with a single gate onto the hutong, and looks very closed; but step inside and you find another world: quiet, bright and full of the flavour of daily life.

院子里常常种着几棵树，有的人家还会种一些花，春天的时候，满院子都是花香。

Yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) chángcháng (second tone, rising) zhòng (fourth tone, falling) zhe (neutral tone) jǐ (third tone, dipping) kē (first tone, high and level) shù, (fourth tone, falling) yǒude (third tone, dipping) rénjiā (second tone, rising) hái (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) zhòng (fourth tone, falling) yìxiē (fourth tone, falling) huā, (first tone, high and level) chūntiān (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíhou, (second tone, rising) mǎn (third tone, dipping) yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) huāxiāng. (first tone, high and level)

A few trees usually grow in the courtyard, and some families plant flowers too; in spring the whole courtyard smells of blossom.

四合院的布局体现了中国传统社会对家庭秩序的重视。

Sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) bùjú (fourth tone, falling) tǐxiàn (third tone, dipping) le (neutral tone) Zhōngguó (first tone, high and level) chuántǒng (second tone, rising) shèhuì (fourth tone, falling) duì (fourth tone, falling) jiātíng (first tone, high and level) zhìxù (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) zhòngshì. (fourth tone, falling)

The layout of the siheyuan reflects the importance traditional Chinese society attached to order within the family.

坐北朝南的正房阳光最充足，冬天暖和，夏天凉快，通常由家中年纪最大的长辈居住；

Zuò (fourth tone, falling) běi (third tone, dipping) cháo (second tone, rising) nán (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) zhèngfáng (fourth tone, falling) yángguāng (second tone, rising) zuì (fourth tone, falling) chōngzú, (first tone, high and level) dōngtiān (first tone, high and level) nuǎnhuo, (third tone, dipping) xiàtiān (fourth tone, falling) liángkuai, (second tone, rising) tōngcháng (first tone, high and level) yóu (second tone, rising) jiā (first tone, high and level) zhōng (first tone, high and level) niánjì (second tone, rising) zuì (fourth tone, falling) dà (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) zhǎngbèi (third tone, dipping) jūzhù; (first tone, high and level)

The main room, sitting on the north side and facing south, gets the most sun, warm in winter and cool in summer, and is usually lived in by the oldest member of the family;

东西两边的房子则住着晚辈；

Dōng (first tone, high and level) xī (first tone, high and level) liǎng (third tone, dipping) biān (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) fángzi (second tone, rising) zé (second tone, rising) zhù (fourth tone, falling) zhe (neutral tone) wǎnbèi; (third tone, dipping)

the younger generation live in the houses on the east and west sides;

靠近大门的房子一般用来做客厅或者书房。

Kàojìn (fourth tone, falling) dàmén (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) fángzi (second tone, rising) yìbān (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) zuò (fourth tone, falling) kètīng (fourth tone, falling) huòzhě (fourth tone, falling) shūfáng. (first tone, high and level)

the rooms near the gate are generally used as a sitting room or a study.

谁住在哪里，并不是随意决定的，而是按照家庭成员的年龄和地位来安排。

Shuí (second tone, rising) zhù (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) nǎli, (third tone, dipping) bìng (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) suíyì (second tone, rising) juédìng (second tone, rising) de, (neutral tone) ér (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) ànzhào (fourth tone, falling) jiātíng (first tone, high and level) chéngyuán (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) niánlíng (second tone, rising) hé (second tone, rising) dìwèi (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) ānpái. (first tone, high and level)

Who lives where is not decided at random but arranged according to each family member’s age and standing.

这种安排既方便长辈照顾全家，也让每个人都清楚自己在家庭中的位置。

Zhè (fourth tone, falling) zhǒng (third tone, dipping) ānpái (first tone, high and level) jì (fourth tone, falling) fāngbiàn (first tone, high and level) zhǎngbèi (third tone, dipping) zhàogu (fourth tone, falling) quán (second tone, rising) jiā, (first tone, high and level) yě (third tone, dipping) ràng (fourth tone, falling) měi (third tone, dipping) ge (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) dōu (first tone, high and level) qīngchu (first tone, high and level) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiātíng (first tone, high and level) zhōng (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) wèizhi. (fourth tone, falling)

This arrangement makes it easy for the elders to look after the whole household, and lets everyone know their own place in the family.

院子是四合院的中心，也是全家人共同生活的空间。

Yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) zhōngxīn, (first tone, high and level) yě (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) quán (second tone, rising) jiārén (first tone, high and level) gòngtóng (fourth tone, falling) shēnghuó (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) kōngjiān. (first tone, high and level)

The courtyard is the heart of the house and the space the whole family shares.

夏天的傍晚，大人们在院子里的树下休息、喝茶、下象棋，孩子们在一旁跑来跑去；

Xiàtiān (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) bàngwǎn, (fourth tone, falling) dàrénmen (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) de (neutral tone) shù (fourth tone, falling) xià (fourth tone, falling) xiūxi, (first tone, high and level) hē (first tone, high and level) chá, (second tone, rising) xià (fourth tone, falling) xiàngqí, (fourth tone, falling) háizimen (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) yìpáng (fourth tone, falling) pǎo (third tone, dipping) lái (second tone, rising) pǎo (third tone, dipping) qù; (fourth tone, falling)

On summer evenings the adults rest under the trees in the courtyard, drinking tea and playing Chinese chess, while the children run about nearby;

冬天下雪以后，院子里白白的一片，孩子们最喜欢在雪地里玩儿；

Dōngtiān (first tone, high and level) xiàxuě (fourth tone, falling) yǐhòu, (third tone, dipping) yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) báibái (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) yí (second tone, rising) piàn, (fourth tone, falling) háizimen (second tone, rising) zuì (fourth tone, falling) xǐhuan (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) xuědì (third tone, dipping) li (neutral tone) wánr; (second tone, rising)

after snow in winter the courtyard is all white, and the children love nothing more than playing in it;

到了春节，一家人坐在一起包饺子，院子里非常热闹。

Dào (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) Chūnjié, (first tone, high and level) yì (fourth tone, falling) jiārén (first tone, high and level) zuò (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) yìqǐ (fourth tone, falling) bāo (first tone, high and level) jiǎozi, (third tone, dipping) yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) fēicháng (first tone, high and level) rènao. (fourth tone, falling)

and at the Spring Festival the family sits together making dumplings, and the courtyard is full of bustle.

正因为这样，很多在四合院里长大的老北京人一提起过去的日子，总会说起院子里的那棵老树和邻居之间的感情。

Zhèng (fourth tone, falling) yīnwèi (first tone, high and level) zhèyàng, (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) duō (first tone, high and level) zài (fourth tone, falling) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) zhǎngdà (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) lǎo (third tone, dipping) Běijīng (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) yì (fourth tone, falling) tíqǐ (second tone, rising) guòqu (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) rìzi, (fourth tone, falling) zǒng (third tone, dipping) huì (fourth tone, falling) shuōqǐ (first tone, high and level) yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) de (neutral tone) nà (fourth tone, falling) kē (first tone, high and level) lǎo (third tone, dipping) shù (fourth tone, falling) hé (second tone, rising) línjū (second tone, rising) zhījiān (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) gǎnqíng. (third tone, dipping)

That is why so many old Beijingers who grew up in a siheyuan, when they talk about the past, always mention the old tree in the courtyard and the bonds between neighbours.

后来，随着城市人口的迅速增加，许多四合院里住进了越来越多的人家。

Hòulái, (fourth tone, falling) suízhe (second tone, rising) chéngshì (second tone, rising) rénkǒu (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) xùnsù (fourth tone, falling) zēngjiā, (first tone, high and level) xǔduō (third tone, dipping) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) zhù (fourth tone, falling) jìn (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) yuè (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) yuè (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) rénjiā. (second tone, rising)

Later, as the city’s population grew rapidly, more and more households moved into many of the siheyuan.

原来只住一家人的院子，后来挤进了五六家甚至十几家，院子里盖满了临时的小房子，原来宽敞的空间变得十分拥挤。

Yuánlái (second tone, rising) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) zhù (fourth tone, falling) yì (fourth tone, falling) jiārén (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) yuànzi, (fourth tone, falling) hòulái (fourth tone, falling) jǐ (third tone, dipping) jìn (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) wǔliù (third tone, dipping) jiā (first tone, high and level) shènzhì (fourth tone, falling) shíjǐ (second tone, rising) jiā, (first tone, high and level) yuànzi (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) gài (fourth tone, falling) mǎn (third tone, dipping) le (neutral tone) línshí (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) fángzi, (second tone, rising) yuánlái (second tone, rising) kuānchang (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) kōngjiān (first tone, high and level) biànde (fourth tone, falling) shífēn (second tone, rising) yōngjǐ. (first tone, high and level)

A courtyard that once housed one family later squeezed in five or six, or even more than ten; it filled up with makeshift little rooms, and the once spacious courtyard became very crowded.

再后来，城市开始大规模建设，不少胡同和四合院被拆了，代替它们的是一座座高楼。

Zài (fourth tone, falling) hòulái, (fourth tone, falling) chéngshì (second tone, rising) kāishǐ (first tone, high and level) dàguīmó (fourth tone, falling) jiànshè, (fourth tone, falling) bù (fourth tone, falling) shǎo (third tone, dipping) hútòng (second tone, rising) hé (second tone, rising) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) bèi (fourth tone, falling) chāi (first tone, high and level) le, (neutral tone) dàitì (fourth tone, falling) tāmen (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shì (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) zuòzuò (fourth tone, falling) gāolóu. (first tone, high and level)

Later still, the city began building on a large scale; many hutongs and siheyuan were demolished and replaced by tower blocks.

住进楼房以后，人们的居住条件得到了明显的改善，有了自己的厨房和卫生间，冬天也不用再担心冷了。

Zhù (fourth tone, falling) jìn (fourth tone, falling) lóufáng (second tone, rising) yǐhòu, (third tone, dipping) rénmen (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) jūzhù (first tone, high and level) tiáojiàn (second tone, rising) dédào (second tone, rising) le (neutral tone) míngxiǎn (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) gǎishàn, (third tone, dipping) yǒu (third tone, dipping) le (neutral tone) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) chúfáng (second tone, rising) hé (second tone, rising) wèishēngjiān, (fourth tone, falling) dōngtiān (first tone, high and level) yě (third tone, dipping) bú (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) dānxīn (first tone, high and level) lěng (third tone, dipping) le. (neutral tone)

After moving into flats, people’s living conditions clearly improved: they had their own kitchens and bathrooms, and no longer had to worry about the cold in winter.

然而，许多人也感到，邻居之间的交往少了，过去那种一家有事、全院帮忙的情景很难再见到了。

Rán (second tone, rising) ér, (second tone, rising) xǔduō (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) yě (third tone, dipping) gǎn (third tone, dipping) dào, (fourth tone, falling) línjū (second tone, rising) zhījiān (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) jiāowǎng (first tone, high and level) shǎo (third tone, dipping) le, (neutral tone) guòqu (fourth tone, falling) nà (fourth tone, falling) zhǒng (third tone, dipping) yì (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) yǒu (third tone, dipping) shì, (fourth tone, falling) quán (second tone, rising) yuàn (fourth tone, falling) bāngmáng (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) qíngjǐng (second tone, rising) hěn (third tone, dipping) nán (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiàndào (fourth tone, falling) le. (neutral tone)

Yet many also feel that neighbours see less of each other, and the old scene of the whole courtyard helping when one family had trouble is hard to find now.

一位从小在四合院长大的老人说：“以前谁家做了好吃的，都会给邻居送一碗；现在住了十几年楼房，对面的邻居姓什么我都不知道。”

Yí (second tone, rising) wèi (fourth tone, falling) cóng (second tone, rising) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) zhǎngdà (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) lǎorén (third tone, dipping) shuō: (first tone, high and level) “Yǐqián (third tone, dipping) shuí (second tone, rising) jiā (first tone, high and level) zuò (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) hǎochī (third tone, dipping) de, (neutral tone) dōu (first tone, high and level) huì (fourth tone, falling) gěi (third tone, dipping) línjū (second tone, rising) sòng (fourth tone, falling) yì (fourth tone, falling) wǎn; (third tone, dipping) xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) zhù (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) shíjǐ (second tone, rising) nián (second tone, rising) lóufáng, (second tone, rising) duìmiàn (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) línjū (second tone, rising) xìng (fourth tone, falling) shénme (second tone, rising) wǒ (third tone, dipping) dōu (first tone, high and level) bù (fourth tone, falling) zhīdào.” (first tone, high and level)

An old man who grew up in a siheyuan said: “In the past, whenever a family made something good to eat, they would send a bowl to the neighbours. I’ve lived in a flat for over ten years now, and I don’t even know the surname of the people across the landing.”

近些年来，保护传统建筑越来越受到重视。

Jìn (fourth tone, falling) xiē (first tone, high and level) nián (second tone, rising) lái, (second tone, rising) bǎohù (third tone, dipping) chuántǒng (second tone, rising) jiànzhù (fourth tone, falling) yuè (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) yuè (fourth tone, falling) shòudào (fourth tone, falling) zhòngshì. (fourth tone, falling)

In recent years, protecting traditional buildings has received more and more attention.

一些保存得比较好的四合院经过重新修理，有的成了博物馆，有的变成了小宾馆或者咖啡店，吸引了很多来旅游的人。

Yìxiē (fourth tone, falling) bǎocún (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) bǐjiào (third tone, dipping) hǎo (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) jīngguò (first tone, high and level) chóngxīn (second tone, rising) xiūlǐ, (first tone, high and level) yǒude (third tone, dipping) chéng (second tone, rising) le (neutral tone) bówùguǎn, (second tone, rising) yǒude (third tone, dipping) biànchéng (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) bīnguǎn (first tone, high and level) huòzhě (fourth tone, falling) kāfēidiàn, (first tone, high and level) xīyǐn (first tone, high and level) le (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) duō (first tone, high and level) lái (second tone, rising) lǚyóu (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) rén. (second tone, rising)

Some better-preserved siheyuan have been restored; some have become museums, others small hotels or cafés, drawing many visitors.

不过也有人担心，如果四合院只剩下给人参观的外表，而失去了原来的生活味道，那么保护的意义就会大大减少。

Búguò (second tone, rising) yě (third tone, dipping) yǒu (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) dānxīn, (first tone, high and level) rúguǒ (second tone, rising) sìhéyuàn (fourth tone, falling) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) shèngxià (fourth tone, falling) gěi (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) cānguān (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) wàibiǎo, (fourth tone, falling) ér (second tone, rising) shīqù (first tone, high and level) le (neutral tone) yuánlái (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) shēnghuó (first tone, high and level) wèidao, (fourth tone, falling) nàme (fourth tone, falling) bǎohù (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) yìyì (fourth tone, falling) jiù (fourth tone, falling) huì (fourth tone, falling) dàdà (fourth tone, falling) jiǎnshǎo. (third tone, dipping)

But some worry that if all that remains of the siheyuan is an exterior for people to look at, and the original flavour of life is lost, preservation will mean much less.

如何在保护传统和改善生活之间找到平衡，仍然是一个值得思考的问题。

Rúhé (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) bǎohù (third tone, dipping) chuántǒng (second tone, rising) hé (second tone, rising) gǎishàn (third tone, dipping) shēnghuó (first tone, high and level) zhījiān (first tone, high and level) zhǎo (third tone, dipping) dào (fourth tone, falling) pínghéng, (second tone, rising) réngrán (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) zhíde (second tone, rising) sīkǎo (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) wèntí. (fourth tone, falling)

How to strike a balance between protecting tradition and improving lives remains a question worth thinking about.