siheyuan

/ˌsə.həˈjɛn/

Etymology

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 四合院 (sìhéyuàn).

noun

  1. A traditional type of Chinese residence consisting of four houses with a courtyard in the middle; a Chinese quadrangle.“Traditional ssu ho yuan, the former homes of courtiers, both mission dwellings consisted of clusters of single-storied, gray-tiled pavilions built around shady courtyards adorned with rock gardens, lotus pools, and ancient fruit trees.”