個標準的四合院通常由一個位于中心的院子和四側房屋構成。 門通常漆成紅色，并有大的銅門環。通常情況下，全家人住在大院。 北端的正房由長輩居住,年輕_代生活在兩側的房子,朝南的房子里, 通常是家庭客廳或書房。

　　A standard siheyuan usually consists of houses on its four sides with a yard in the center. The gates are usually painted red and have large copper door rings. Usually，a whole family lives in compound. The elder generation lives in the main house standing at the north end, the younger generations live in the side houses, and the south house is usually the family sitting room or study.