四合院(Siheyuan)是中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)民居中最重要的形式。它數(shù)量多、分布廣，并且在漢族、滿族、白族以及其他少數(shù)民族中十分流行。大多數(shù)房屋采用木質(zhì)框架。主屋在南北走向的軸線上，兩個(gè)廂房則位于四合院的兩側(cè)。家庭中的長(zhǎng)者住在主屋中，在兩翼則是年輕一代的屋室。婦女住在內(nèi)院。客人和男仆住在外院。這種分布符合封建理制(feudal regulations)。四合院遍布全國(guó)的城鄉(xiāng) ，但由于各地自然條件和生活方式各有不同，因此發(fā)展出各自的特征。北京的四合院是最具代表性的。

　　參考答案：

　　Siheyuan is the most important form of Chinese traditional house. It is great in number and wide in distribution, popular among Han, Man, Bai, and some of other minority groups. Most of the houses are of wood framework. The principal room is built on the south-north axis, and two wing rooms are located on both sides of it. The family elders live in the principal room and wings are the bedrooms for the younger generations. Women live in inner yard. Guests and male servants live in the outer yard. This distribution is in accordance with the feudal regulations. Siheyuan spreads over towns and villages throughout china, but each developed its own characteristics as a result of respective natural conditions and different ways of life. Siheyuan in Beijing is the most representative.