noun
qu
noun
1
In China's administrative system, a district-level division used mainly for urban areas, as distinct from the more rural county-level "xian".
"The new business district was designated a qu under the city government."
"Several qu combine to make up a large Chinese city's municipal area."
How to Use Qu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn urban district in China, one level of its local government structure.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with the letter combination "qu" in ordinary English spelling — this is a standalone loanword used in discussions of Chinese administrative geography.
Word Forms
qus plural, Qus plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “qu”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new business district was designated a _____ under the city government.
Etymology
A romanization of the Mandarin word for "district," borrowed directly into English administrative and geographic writing about China.