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陴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
陴píparapet; city wallg, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #74239, Very Hard
pí(pi2)pi T2
  1. 1parapet; city wall
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March 24, 2026

陴pí(pi2)

The character 陴 (pí) refers to a parapet or a city wall, typically representing a protective structure. It is commonly used in architectural contexts, especially when discussing ancient buildings or fortifications. The nuance of this term emphasizes the defensive and boundary-setting aspects of such structures.

Strokes10Radical阝Frequency#74239DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, city walls were crucial for defense and were often symbolic of a city's power and security. The construction of such walls reflects the historical significance of protection and territorial boundaries in Chinese civilization.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall city wall (like a fortress) that protects the people inside. The character 陴 resembles a wall with a roof over it, which can help you remember its meaning of a protective barrier. The sound 'pí' can be associated with the idea of 'peace' provided by such walls.

Meanings of 陴

pí(pi2)
1parapet; city wall
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 陴

陴Simplified
10Strokes
阝Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 陴

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Podcast: 陴

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AI Study Notes for 陴

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone, as 陴 (pí) is pronounced with a rising tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words in Mandarin. It is used primarily in formal contexts or discussions related to architecture and history, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include terms related to fortifications and architecture.

HSK Study Tips

Although 陴 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, students at higher levels should focus on understanding terms related to architecture and historical contexts. This word can help connect students to discussions about ancient Chinese cities and their defenses, which is relevant to cultural studies.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 陴 with similar characters like 墙 (qiáng), which means 'wall' in a general sense. Remember, 陴 specifically denotes a parapet or defensive wall, not just any wall.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 陴

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Etymology of 陴

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

city

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

Origin

陴 = 阝 + 卑. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 陴

IDS Structure⿰阝卑
陴Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
卑bei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 陴?

How to say parapet; city wall in Chinese

“parapet; city wall” in Chinese is陴pí

The character 陴 (pí) refers to a parapet or a city wall, typically representing a protective structure. It is commonly used in architectural contexts, especially when discussing ancient buildings or fortifications. The nuance of this term emphasizes the defensive and boundary-setting aspects of such structures.

When to use 陴

Be cautious with the tone, as 陴 (pí) is pronounced with a rising tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding words in Mandarin. It is used primarily in formal contexts or discussions related to architecture and history, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include terms related to fortifications and architecture.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 陴 with similar characters like 墙 (qiáng), which means 'wall' in a general sense. Remember, 陴 specifically denotes a parapet or defensive wall, not just any wall.

Write 陴

陴

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

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Word Family of 陴

Words Containing This Character1
陴píparapet

Frequently Asked Questions about 陴

陴 is not commonly used in everyday conversation but is more relevant in historical or architectural discussions.

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