About
The character for "wall", now written as "墙" in its simplified form, traces its origins to the traditional character "牆", which structurally combined the element "爿", representing a piece of wood or a structural partition, with "嗇", a component associated with harvesting and storing grain, thereby etymologically suggesting a protective barrier for agricultural storage. Over time, the meaning broadened from these specific farmstead enclosures to encompass any constructed wall, reflecting changes in building practices and societal needs. In the simplified character, the left radical was replaced by "土" (earth), highlighting the common material used in wall construction, while the right component "啬" was preserved, continuing to hint at its historical phonetic and semantic role. This shift in composition from wood to earth in the character's form mirrors the evolution in its referent, from early wooden partitions to more permanent earthen or brick structures, yet the core meaning of a solid, dividing barrier has remained consistent throughout its linguistic history.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这面墙很白。
我们的教室有一面大墙。
他在墙上贴了一张地图。
公园的围墙是红色的。
古老的城墙吸引了很多游客。
这堵墙的隔音效果非常好。
墙角的爬山虎长得非常茂盛。
城墙的保护工作正在有序进行。