About
寨 is a phono-semantic compound: 木 (mù, wood) serves as the semantic indicator at the bottom, and 塞 (sài/sē) functions as the phonetic. 塞, which includes the roof element 宀, means "to block" or "strategic pass", conjuring the image of a barricaded fortress. This combination yields the original meaning of a timber stockade, a military camp enclosed by wooden palisades for defense. The character's use later expanded to encompass villages, mountain strongholds, and hamlets, particularly those in defensible locations or inhabited by ethnic minorities. The structure thus links the building material directly with the concept of an enclosed, fortified space.
Example Sentences Hide
山上有一个寨子。
这个寨子很古老。
他们住在山寨里。
那个村寨的风景很美。
我们计划去参观一个古老的营寨。
这个山寨以生产茶叶而闻名。
虽然寨子位置偏僻，但居民很友好。
为了保护这个历史悠久的寨子，政府已经采取了多项措施。
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