壁

bì

土 + 辟

Definitions

bì (noun) wall; rampart

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 辟 represents the sound.

Semantic: 土 Phonetic: 辟

About

The character 壁 is a phono-semantic compound: 土 (earth) hints at the earthen material of walls, and 辟 gives the sound. It primarily means a wall, the upright side of a room or building, or a defensive fortification like a city wall. Extended meanings cover anything wall-like in appearance or purpose: a steep cliff, a breastwork, or a figurative barrier. The earth radical anchors the character in the ancient practice of building with rammed earth, setting it apart from wood or stone walls.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这面墙壁需要粉刷。

Zhè miàn qiángbì xūyào fěnshuā.

This wall needs to be painted.

我昨天买了新的壁纸。

Wǒ zuótiān mǎi le xīn de bìzhǐ.

I bought new wallpaper yesterday.

墙上有一幅壁画。

Qiáng shàng yǒu yī fú bìhuà.

There is a mural on the wall.

壁炉里的火很温暖。

Bìlú lǐ de huǒ hěn wēnnuǎn.

The fire in the fireplace is very warm.

壁橱里放满了衣服。

Bìchú lǐ fàng mǎn le yīfu.

The closet is full of clothes.

壁虎在墙上爬行。

Bìhǔ zài qiáng shàng páxíng.

The gecko is crawling on the wall.

贸易壁垒应该被消除。

Màoyì bìlěi yīnggāi bèi xiāochú.

Trade barriers should be eliminated.

他在打壁球时受伤了。

Tā zài dǎ bìqiú shí shòushāng le.

He was injured while playing squash.

Related Characters

Component: 土

Component: 辟

壁