碉

diāo
周 + 石

Definitions

diāo rock cave (archaic)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 周 represents the sound.

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 周

About

The Chinese character 碉 is a phono-semantic compound. The left radical 石 (stone) indicates its material, while the right component 周 provides the pronunciation. The character primarily refers to a type of defensive stone tower or blockhouse, historically used by the Qiang and Tibetan ethnic groups in southwestern China for military or residential purposes. Its core meaning has remained consistent, describing fortified, tower-like stone structures, though it now also extends to modern concrete blockhouses while retaining its association with robust, defensive architecture.

Example Sentences Hide

山上有一座碉堡。

Shān shàng yǒu yī zuò diāobǎo.

There is a blockhouse on the mountain.

碉堡的墙很厚。

Diāobǎo de qiáng hěn hòu.

The walls of the blockhouse are very thick.

士兵们在碉堡里守卫。

Shìbīngmen zài diāobǎo lǐ shǒuwèi.

The soldiers are guarding inside the blockhouse.

古老的碉楼保存得很好。

Gǔlǎo de diāolóu bǎocún de hěn hǎo.

The ancient watchtower is well-preserved.

他们在山腰修建了一个新碉堡。

Tāmen zài shānyāo xiūjiàn le yī gè xīn diāobǎo.

They built a new blockhouse on the mountainside.

碉堡的射击孔对准了山谷。

Diāobǎo de shèjǐ kǒng duìzhǔn le shāngǔ.

The embrasures of the blockhouse are aimed at the valley.

为了防御敌人，村庄周围建起了碉楼。

Wèile fángyù dírén, cūnzhuāng zhōuwéi jiàn qǐle diāolóu.

To defend against enemies, watchtowers were built around the village.

在历史战争中，碉堡起到了重要的防守作用。

Zài lìshǐ zhànzhēng zhōng, diāobǎo qǐdàole zhòngyào de fángshǒu zuòyòng.

In historical wars, blockhouses played an important defensive role.

Related Characters

Component: 周

调 雕 绸 稠 凋 惆 倜 啁 調 鲷 鵰 週 赒 蜩

Component: 石

确 研 破 础 硬 码 碰 矿 碎 岩 碍 磨 磁 碗

Example Words

碉堡