Chinese Wall
1
3.4
- proper noun
:
Gran Muralla China
- The Chinese Wall is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
Examples
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Have you ever visited the Chinese Wall?
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The Great Wall of China, often referred to as the Chinese Wall, is one of the most impressive architectural feats in history.
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Historians debate how many workers died constructing the Chinese Wall during the 3rd century BC.
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Many tourists travel each year to walk along the Chinese Wall and admire its structure.
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The Chinese Wall was built to protect ancient China from invasions by northern tribes.
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Tourists from all over the world visit the Chinese Wall to marvel at its grandeur and historical significance.
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Many legends surround the construction of the Chinese Wall, which was built over several centuries to protect against invasions.
Synonyms
16
3.5
A very long ancient wall across northern China built to stop invaders
8
3.0
A very long old wall in northern China built to stop attacks
Surface Forms
Morphology
The word 'wall' clearly denotes a barrier, so learners can infer that the expression refers to some kind of separation or blockage; however, the modifier 'Chinese' functions metaphorically (alluding to the Great Wall) to signal an institutional or imaginary information barrier. That cultural and figurative link is not fully predictable for a B1 learner who only knows the literal words, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Chinese Wall is the English name for the very long stone wall built across northern China long ago to protect the country; the image of a long, strong barrier explains why people call it a 'wall'.