About
The character "坝", representing a dam or embankment, evolved from the traditional form "壩", which structurally combines the earth radical "土" with the component "霸" that historically served a phonetic role, reflecting the construction material and function of such barriers. Over time, the character was streamlined to "坝", where the earth radical remains alongside "贝", a component that may hint at historical value or simply act as a simplified phonetic element, yet the core meaning related to water-control structures built from earth has remained consistent. While the graphical form has changed, the etymology continues to emphasize earthworks, and the term has also been applied in place names to describe flat areas adjacent to rivers, demonstrating a stable semantic thread despite orthographic adjustments.
Example Sentences Hide
这个大坝很坚固。
河坝上可以散步。
他们在修建一座新水坝。
这座拦河坝能防洪发电。
古老的堤坝保护着下游的村庄。
三峡大坝是一项宏伟的工程。
泥石流在坝体上冲开了一个缺口。
工程师们正在评估大坝的抗震稳定性。