Meanings of 塹
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About 塹
Podcast: 塹
Podcast: 塹
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AI Study Notes for 塹
Learners often confuse 塹 with similar characters that denote different types of water bodies or trenches. It is more formal and may not be used frequently in casual conversation. Common collocations include '防御塹' (defensive trench) and '水塹' (water trench).
While 塹 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it helps learners connect with characters related to defense and construction, like 堡 (bǎo - fortress) and 坑 (kēng - pit). Focus on recognizing the character's radicals and related terms to enhance vocabulary.
Learners might confuse 塹 with 坑 (kēng) and use it interchangeably, leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我在水塹里' (I am in the water trench) when they meant '水坑' (water pit) is incorrect; ensure the context matches the meaning.
Pronunciation of 塹
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Etymology of 塹
Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 斩 represents the sound. Simplified form of 塹.
earth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 塹
Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 斩 represents the sound. Simplified form of 塹.
- 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half斬 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayearth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 塹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 塹
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How to say moat, pit, trench; cavity in Chinese
“moat, pit, trench; cavity” in Chinese is塹
The character 塹 (qiàn) refers to a moat, pit, or trench, typically used as a defensive structure in ancient Chinese warfare or for irrigation. In modern contexts, it can also denote a cavity or hollow space. This term is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in historical or architectural discussions.
When to use 塹
Learners often confuse 塹 with similar characters that denote different types of water bodies or trenches. It is more formal and may not be used frequently in casual conversation. Common collocations include '防御塹' (defensive trench) and '水塹' (water trench).
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 塹 with 坑 (kēng) and use it interchangeably, leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我在水塹里' (I am in the water trench) when they meant '水坑' (water pit) is incorrect; ensure the context matches the meaning.
Write 塹
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Practice writing 塹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 塹
Compound Meaning
What does 堑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 塹
It is mostly found in historical texts or discussions about architecture and defense, rather than in everyday speech.
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