great wall of china: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Historical, Geographic, Cultural
Quick answer
What does “great wall of china” mean?
A series of ancient fortifications and walls, mostly built in the Ming Dynasty, stretching across China's northern borders.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A series of ancient fortifications and walls, mostly built in the Ming Dynasty, stretching across China's northern borders.
A symbol of China's historical strength and endurance; a massive or impenetrable barrier; a monumental architectural and historical landmark.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling and usage are identical. The term 'Wall' is capitalised as part of the proper name.
Connotations
Identical connotations of historical grandeur, immense scale, and Chinese cultural heritage.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties due to its status as a globally recognised proper noun.
Grammar
How to Use “great wall of china” in a Sentence
[Subject] visited the Great Wall of China.The Great Wall of China [verb: stretches, runs, snakes] across the mountains.They built the Great Wall of China to [purpose].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great wall of china” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policy was designed to Great Wall the country from foreign influence. (rare, metaphorical)
American English
- They tried to Great-Wall their network against hackers. (rare, metaphorical)
adjective
British English
- It was a Great Wall-like barrier across the desert. (hyphenated compound adjective)
American English
- They faced a Great Wall-sized pile of regulations. (hyphenated compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for a strong defensive strategy or a barrier to market entry: 'The company built a Great Wall of patents around its technology.'
Academic
Discussed in history, archaeology, and engineering contexts: 'The logistics of supplying the Great Wall garrisons were immense.'
Everyday
Refers to the tourist destination or a metaphor for a big obstacle: 'Our dream is to visit the Great Wall.' 'Paperwork is a Great Wall stopping us.'
Technical
In archaeology and conservation: 'The Great Wall's watchtowers were spaced at intervals of one bow-shot.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great wall of china”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great wall of china”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great wall of china”
- Incorrect article: 'the Great Wall of the China' (no second 'the').
- Capitalisation error: 'We saw the great wall of china.' (must capitalise all main words).
- Pluralisation: 'the Great Walls of China' (it is considered one singular structure).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The total length of all sections built across various dynasties is approximately 21,196 km (13,171 miles). The Ming Dynasty wall is about 8,850 km (5,500 miles) long.
This is a common myth. It is extremely difficult to see with the naked eye from low Earth orbit and not visible from the Moon. From a low orbit, it may be visible under perfect conditions with optical aid, but it is no more visible than many other human-made structures.
The earliest walls date back to the 7th century BC. The most famous and best-preserved sections were built by the Ming Dynasty between the 14th and 17th centuries AD.
The term 'Great' reflects its colossal scale, length, and historical significance. Its Chinese name, 'Wanli Changcheng', means 'The Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li' (a 'li' is a traditional Chinese unit of distance), emphasizing its immense length.
A series of ancient fortifications and walls, mostly built in the Ming Dynasty, stretching across China's northern borders.
Great wall of china is usually formal, historical, geographic, cultural in register.
Great wall of china: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌwɔːl əv ˈtʃaɪnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌwɔːl əv ˈtʃaɪnə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like building a Great Wall of China (an impossibly huge task).”
- “A Great Wall of bureaucracy (an impenetrable administrative barrier).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A GREAT, long WALL, made in CHINA. The initials G.W.C. can stand for 'Gigantic Wonder of China'.
Conceptual Metaphor
BARRIER IS A WALL; HISTORY IS A LANDSCAPE; PROTECTION IS A FORTIFICATION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary historical purpose of the Great Wall of China?