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垛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
duǒheap, pile; to heap, to pilev, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #43067, Very Hard
duǒbattlementunknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #43067, Very Hard
duǒtargetunknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #43067, Very Hard
duòheap, pile; to heap, to pilev, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #43067, Very Hard
duòbattlementunknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #43067, Very Hard
duòtargetunknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #43067, Very Hard
duǒ(duo3)
primary
T3
  1. 1heap, pile; to heap, to pile
  2. 2battlement
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
duǒ(duo3)

The character 垛 (duǒ) refers to a heap or pile of something and can also mean to stack or to pile up. It is often used in contexts where items are grouped or stacked, such as firewood or stones. Additionally, in a military context, it can refer to battlements or a raised structure for defense.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#43067DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, battlements (a meaning of 垛) were essential for defense in ancient cities, reflecting the historical significance of military strategy in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'door' (sounds like 'duǒ') where you pile up your shoes. The character 垛 has a '土' (earth) radical at the bottom, suggesting something grounded and piled up on the earth. Visualize a huge pile of shoes blocking the door, making it hard to enter.

Meanings of 垛

duǒ(duo3)
primary
1heap, pile; to heap, to pile
2battlement
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 垛

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 垛

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AI Study Notes for 垛

Quick Contrast

堆 (duī) - use 垛 (duǒ) when emphasizing a specific arrangement or stacking, while 堆 (duī) is more general for any heap.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'door' (sounds like 'duǒ') where you pile up your shoes. The character 垛 has a '土' (earth) radical at the bottom, suggesting something grounded and piled up on the earth. Visualize a huge pile of shoes blocking the door, making it hard to enter.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 垛 (duǒ) with similar-sounding characters like 堵 (dǔ, to block), which can lead to misunderstandings. This word is generally used in informal contexts when discussing physical piles, but can also be used in military discussions. Be careful with the tones, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though 垛 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words related to building or stacking, such as 堆 (duī, to pile up). Focus on recognizing its usage in context and building vocabulary around physical objects and structures.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, battlements (a meaning of 垛) were essential for defense in ancient cities, reflecting the historical significance of military strategy in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 垛 (duǒ) with 堆 (duī), leading to incorrect phrases like '他把书垛在一起' instead of '他把书堆在一起' (He piled the books together). Always ensure you are using the correct term based on the context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 垛

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Etymology of 垛

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 朵 represents the sound. Simplified form of 垜.

Memory Hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 垛?

Decomposition of 垛

IDS Structure⿰土朵
Full Character
=
Tu3
left
duo3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 垛?

Write 垛

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 垛

垛 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

参加运动的人们在各种仪式上点起一____垛篝火以纪念周年庆典。

Campaigners lit scores of bonfires in ceremonies to mark the anniversary.

Example Sentences for 垛 (1)

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1
参加运动的人们在各种仪式上点起一垛垛篝火以纪念周年庆典。

cān jiā yùn dòng de rén mén zài gè zhǒng yí shì shàng diǎn qǐ yī duǒ duǒ gōu huǒ yǐ jì niàn zhōu nián qìng diǎn。

Campaigners lit scores of bonfires in ceremonies to mark the anniversary.

Cultural Notes for 垛

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese architecture, battlements (a meaning of 垛) were essential for defense in ancient cities, reflecting the historical significance of military strategy in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 垛

Words Containing This Character2
duǒtarget
垛口crenel
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 垛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 垛

You can say '他把木头垛在一起' (Tā bǎ mùtóu duǒ zài yīqǐ), meaning 'He piled the wood together.'