堙 (yīn) - To block up & to stop up

堙Tone 1

yīn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

懿嘤

堙 · yīn

To block up;

to stop up;

to fill in;

an embankment;

a mound.

To block upto stop upto fill in

Usage highlights

To block and fillCity moundTo fill a wellBlockade ditchEarth embankmentTo bury and obscure

Synonyms

  • 填— to fill
  • 塞— to block
  • 堵— to stop up

Antonyms

  • 通— to open; to clear
  • 疏— to dredge; to clear

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They filled the trench to block the enemy (堙塞).
  • Ancient cities often had defensive mounds (堙城).
  • The river was blocked with earth (以土堙之).
  • The well was filled in for safety (堙井).

Collocations

  • To block and fill(堙塞)
  • City mound(堙城)
  • To fill a well(堙井)
  • Blockade ditch(堙沟)
  • Earth embankment(土堙)
  • To bury and obscure(堙没)

Idioms

  • To block the ears and steal the bell(堙耳盗铃)
  • Blocking the source and capturing the flow(堙源截流)
  • Filled gullies and leveled mounds(堙谷堑山)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in ancient military tactics for building defensive earthworks or blocking enemy movements.
  • Appears in classical texts describing engineering projects like water control or city fortifications.
  • The character reflects ancient Chinese civil engineering and military strategy practices.

FAQ