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壩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
壩
bà
embankment; dam
x, 24 strokes, radical 土
bà(ba4)ba T4
1embankment; dam
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March 24, 2026
壩bà(ba4)
The character 壩 (bà) refers to an artificial structure built to hold back water, commonly known as an embankment or dam. It is used in contexts related to water management, engineering, and environmental protection, particularly in discussions about flood control and irrigation.
Strokes24Radical土
Cultural note
In China, maintaining water resources is crucial due to the vast agricultural landscape. The construction of large dams, such as the Three Gorges Dam, plays a significant role in flood control and hydroelectric power generation, making this term particularly relevant in discussions about modern Chinese infrastructure.
Memory tip
Imagine a big 'b' (for 'bà') shaped like a wall holding back a flood of water. The radical '土' (earth) suggests that this structure is made from earth or soil, helping to keep rivers and lakes contained.
Meanings of 壩
bà(ba4)
1embankment; dam
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 壩
壩Simplified
24Strokes
土Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 壩
Podcast: 壩
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AI study notes for 壩
Quick Contrast
堤 (dī) — use 壩 (bà) for larger structures like dams, while 堤 (dī) refers specifically to smaller embankments or levees.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 壩 (bà) with similar-sounding words like 爸 (bà), which means 'dad.' In written contexts, it's often used in combination with other words like 水壩 (shuǐbà), meaning 'water dam.' Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct term.
HSK Study Tips
Though 壩 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other words related to nature and infrastructure at higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing it in context, particularly in reading passages about engineering or environmental topics.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 壩 (bà) with similar-sounding characters. For example, using 爸 (bà) instead of 壩 would lead to confusion, as it changes the meaning entirely from a dam to 'dad.' Always pay attention to context and pronunciation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 壩
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壩 = 土 + 霸. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 壩
IDS Structure⿰土霸
壩Full character
=
土Tu3
left
霸ba4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 壩?
How to say embankment; dam in Chinese
“embankment; dam” in Chinese is壩bà
The character 壩 (bà) refers to an artificial structure built to hold back water, commonly known as an embankment or dam. It is used in contexts related to water management, engineering, and environmental protection, particularly in discussions about flood control and irrigation.
When to use 壩
Be careful not to confuse 壩 (bà) with similar-sounding words like 爸 (bà), which means 'dad.' In written contexts, it's often used in combination with other words like 水壩 (shuǐbà), meaning 'water dam.' Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct term.
壩 or something close to it
堤 (dī) — use 壩 (bà) for larger structures like dams, while 堤 (dī) refers specifically to smaller embankments or levees.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 壩 (bà) with similar-sounding characters. For example, using 爸 (bà) instead of 壩 would lead to confusion, as it changes the meaning entirely from a dam to 'dad.' Always pay attention to context and pronunciation.
Write 壩
壩
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Word Family of 壩
Words containing this character20
坝bàdam壩
大坝dam大壩
水坝dam水壩
堤坝dībàdam堤壩
葛洲坝name of a place, Gezhouba Dam on the Changjiang River, in Sichuan葛洲壩
沙坪坝区Shapingba district of central Chongqing municipality, formerly in Sichuan沙坪壩區
平坝Pingba county in Anshun 安順|安顺[Anshùn], Guizhou平壩
阿坝also Ngawa county阿壩
平坝县Pingba county in Anshun 安順|安顺[Anshùn], Guizhou平壩縣
院坝(dialect) courtyard院壩
阿坝州Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture (Tibetan: rnga ba bod rigs cha'ng rigs rang skyong khul, formerly in Kham province of Tibet), northwest Sichuan, capital Barkam 馬爾康鎮|马尔康镇[Mǎ'ěrkāngzhèn]阿壩州
拦河坝a dam across a river攔河壩
土坝earth dam土壩
阿坝藏族羌族自治州Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture (Tibetan: rnga ba bod rigs cha'ng rigs rang skyong khul, formerly in Kham province of Tibet), northwest Sichuan, capital Barkam 馬爾康鎮|马尔康镇[Mǎ'ěrkāngzhèn]阿壩藏族羌族自治州
冰坝freezing blockage冰壩
阿坝县Ngawa county (Tibetan: rnga ba rdzong) in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture 阿壩藏族羌族自治州|阿坝藏族羌族自治州[AbàZàngzúQiāngzúzìzhìzhōu], northwest Sichuan阿壩縣
留坝Liuba County in Hanzhong 漢中|汉中[Hànzhōng], Shaanxi留壩
元坝区Yuanba district of Guangyuan city 廣元市|广元市[Guǎngyuánshì], Sichuan元壩區
留坝县Liuba County in Hanzhong 漢中|汉中[Hànzhōng], Shaanxi留壩縣
边坝Banbar county, Tibetan: Dpal 'bar rdzong, in Chamdo prefecture 昌都地區|昌都地区[Chāngdūdìqū], Tibet邊壩
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 壩
What does 坝 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 壩
壩 specifically refers to a dam or embankment, while terms like 河 (hé) refer to rivers or 水 (shuǐ) to water in general.
Generally, 壩 is used in a concrete sense related to physical structures, rather than metaphorically.
Common collocations include 水壩 (shuǐbà - water dam) and 堤壩 (dībà - levee).
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