Meaning of 单元
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- unit (forming an entity)
- element
- (in a residential building) entrance or staircase
How to use 单元
单元 is common for units in a textbook or course, and for the separate entrances of a Chinese apartment building, as in addresses like 3号楼2单元. Example: 我们今天学习第五单元。(Wǒmen jīntiān xuéxí dì wǔ dānyuán.) We are studying Unit 5 today.
单 (dān) means single, and 元 (yuán) means first or basic. A single basic piece of a bigger whole is a unit.
Common mistake: Learners often use 单元 and 单位 (dānwèi) interchangeably, but 单位 is for units of measure or a workplace, while 单元 is a section of a book or building. Also keep the tone on 元 rising (yuán), not falling.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
单 dān · bill · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
元 yuán · currency unit · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 单元.
| 名单 | míngdān | list of names |
| 单位 | dānwèi | unit (of measure); unit (group of people as a whole) |
| 菜单 | càidān | menu |
| 简单 | jiǎndān | simple; not complicated |
| 美元 | měiyuán | American dollar; US dollar |
| 单独 | dāndú | alone; by oneself |
| 单纯 | dānchún | simple; pure |
| 公元 | gōngyuán | CE (Common Era); Christian Era |
| 单调 | dāndiào | monotonous |
| 单一 | dānyī | single; only |
| 元旦 | Yuándàn | New Year's Day |
| 元素 | yuánsù | element (key component of sth); (chemistry) element |
Questions about 单元
What does 单元 mean?
单元 (dānyuán) means "unit (forming an entity); element" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 单元?
单元 is made of 2 characters: 单 (8 strokes), 元 (4 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 单元 an HSK word?
Yes. 单元 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 单元 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 单元 is written 單元.
What does 单元 mean in a Chinese address?
In a residential complex, one building (楼) is often split into several 单元, each with its own entrance and staircase. An address like 5号楼1单元302 means building 5, entrance 1, apartment 302.
How do you say unit test in Chinese?
A school unit test is 单元测试 (dānyuán cèshì) or 单元考试 (dānyuán kǎoshì). The same phrase 单元测试 is also used in programming for unit testing.