圩 (wéi) - dyke & embankment

圩Tone 2

wéi ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 土

万响

圩 · wéi

dyke;

embankment;

low-lying protective wall;

also used for certain rural markets (when pronounced xū).

dykeembankmentlow-lying protective wall

Usage highlights

dykeembankmentpolder fieldrural marketmarket townembankment wall

Synonyms

  • 堤— dyke; embankment
  • 坝— dam; embankment

Antonyms

  • 沟— ditch; trench
  • 渠— canal; channel

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They built a dyke (圩堤) to protect the village from floods.
  • The farmers work in the fields within the embankment (圩田).
  • We went to the rural market (圩市) to buy fresh produce.

Collocations

  • dyke(圩堤)
  • embankment(圩垸)
  • polder field(圩田)
  • rural market(圩市)
  • market town(圩镇)
  • embankment wall(圩墙)

Idioms

  • Repair the sheepfold after the sheep are lost(亡羊补圩)
  • As solid as metal and stone(固若金圩)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically important in water management for agriculture in southern China, particularly in areas like the Yangtze River Delta.
  • The character also refers to periodic rural markets (when read as xū), common in southern China, where farmers and traders gather on specific days.

FAQ