‘厢房’ refers to a side room or annex building located on either side of the main courtyard in traditional Chinese residential architecture—especially in siheyuan (courtyard houses). The character ‘厢’ originally meant a compartment or wing, often used for side sections of buildings or carriages; ‘房’ means room or house. Together, they denote subsidiary structures that flank the central main hall and are typically used for family members, guests, storage, or servants.

This term carries strong historical and cultural connotations, evoking classical architecture and hierarchical spatial organization—where the main hall is reserved for elders or formal functions, while厢房 reflect lower status or functional support roles. Though rarely used in modern apartment living, it appears frequently in historical novels, architectural descriptions, and heritage site signage. It’s a countable noun and usually appears with measure words like ‘间’ (jiān) or ‘座’ (zuò).