About
The character 陂 (bēi or pō) is a phono-semantic compound. Its left radical 阝 signifies a mound or elevated terrain, while the right component 皮 (pí) provides the pronunciation. The character carries related geographical meanings tied to its structure: when pronounced bēi, it refers to an artificial reservoir or dammed pool, often reinforced banks used for irrigation. When pronounced pō, it describes a rugged hillside or sloping mountain terrain, linking the character to both water-management infrastructure and natural topography as suggested by its semantic radical.
Etymology Hide
