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陴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
陴píparapet; city wallg, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #74239, Very Hard
pí(pi2) T2
  1. 1parapet; city wall
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 陴

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half卑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycity
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 陴? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 陴?

Decomposition of 陴

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component 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.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 陴

Words Containing This Character1
陴píparapet
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 陴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 陴

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

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 陴?

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