环绕

huánrào

to surround

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"环绕" means to surround or encircle something physically. It is often used to describe natural or man-made objects that enclose or encompass an area or object.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see "环绕" used in descriptions of landscapes, such as mountains surrounding a city or water surrounding an island. It conveys a sense of enclosure or being encompassed.

Collocations

  • 环绕城市 (surround the city): used to describe natural features like mountains or rivers around a city.
  • 环绕 (surrounded by flowers and plants): often used in descriptions of gardens or parks.
  • 环绕 (lake water surrounds): describing water bodies encircling land.

Usage Notes

"环绕" is a formal verb and is more common in written or descriptive contexts rather than casual speech. It emphasizes the physical encirclement rather than abstract or metaphorical surrounds. Avoid confusing it with "围绕", which can also mean "to revolve around" in a more abstract sense.

Summary

Use "环绕" when you want to describe something physically encircling or surrounding another object, especially in natural or scenic descriptions.

Example Sentences

这座城市被高山环绕,风景非常美丽。

Zhè zuò chéngshì bèi gāoshān huánrào, fēngjǐng fēicháng měilì.

This city is surrounded by high mountains, and the scenery is very

湖水环绕着小岛,形成了一个天然的港湾。

Húshuǐ huánrào zhe xiǎodǎo, xíngchéng le yí gè tiānrán de gǎngwān.

The lake water surrounds the small island, forming a natural harbor.

花园里环绕着各种各样的花草,空气中弥漫着香气。

Huāyuán lǐ huánrào zhe gè zhǒng gè yàng de huācǎo, kōngqì zhōng mímàn

The garden is surrounded by various flowers and plants, and the air is