园林 (yuán lín) literally combines 园 (yuán), meaning 'garden' or 'enclosed space for cultivation or leisure', and 林 (lín), meaning 'grove' or 'cluster of trees'. Together, they refer to a designed, aesthetically intentional outdoor space—often featuring ponds, pavilions, rockeries, winding paths, and carefully arranged plants and trees. Unlike the simple, functional term 花园 (huāyuán, 'flower garden'), 园林 emphasizes artistry, harmony with nature, and classical Chinese landscape philosophy.

This word is commonly used for traditional Chinese gardens—especially those in Suzhou, Yangzhou, or Beijing—and also applies to modern landscaped public parks that follow similar design principles. It carries cultural weight and often appears in historical, architectural, or tourism contexts. While it can occasionally refer to botanical gardens or scenic parklands, it does not mean generic 'parks' like 公园 (gōngyuán); instead, it evokes craftsmanship, balance, and poetic intentionality in spatial design.