衚衕

First attested in Yuan Dynasty.

Probably a compound from 衕 (tòng, “street, passage”), a native word attested in Shuowen Jiezi,[1] or from Middle Chinese 巷 (MC haewngH).[2]

Alternatively, a loan word from Middle Mongol ᠬᠤᠳᠳᠤᠭ (quddug, “water well”) (compare Mongolian худаг (xudag)), indicating that people lived where wells could be dug.

Another theory postulates that this is borrowed from Middle Mongol ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮ (ɣudum, “corridor, passage, passageway”) (compare Mongolian гудам (gudam)).

衚衕

1. hutong (a narrow street, lane, or alley, most commonly in Beijing)

   北京的春天很適合騎車逛衚衕。 [MSC, trad.]
   北京的春天很适合骑车逛胡同。 [MSC, simp.]

   Běijīng de chūntiān hěn shìhé qíchē guàng hútòng. [Pinyin]

   Beijing’s spring is very suitable for cycling around the hutongs.

Others:

• → English: hutong
• → Japanese: 胡同(フートン) (fūton)

衚衕

1. chữ Hán form of hồ đồng (“hutong”).