四合院(Siheyuan)是中国传统民居中最重要的形式。它数量多、分布广，并且在汉族、满族、白族以及其他少数民族中十分流行。大多数房屋采用木质框架。主屋在南北走向的轴线上，两个厢房则位于四合院的两侧。家庭中的长者住在主屋中，在两翼则是年轻一代的屋室。妇女住在内院。客人和男仆住在外院。这种分布符合封建理制(feudal regulations)。四合院遍布全国的城乡 ，但由于各地自然条件和生活方式各有不同，因此发展出各自的特征。北京的四合院是最具代表性的。

　　参考答案：

　　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.