堤 (dī) - Dike, embankment, levee — a man-made structure built

堤Tone 1

dī ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

堤 · dī

Dike, embankment, levee — a man-made structure built to contain or control water, typically along rivers or coastlines.

Dike, embankment, levee — a man-made structure built

Usage highlights

River dikeEmbankmentLevee/damSeawallDike roadDike reinforcement

Synonyms

  • 坝— dam, dike
  • 堰— weir, low dam
  • 堤防— dike, embankment

Antonyms

  • 沟— ditch, channel
  • 渠— canal, channel

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The river dike (河堤) prevented flooding.
  • They walked along the embankment (堤岸).
  • The levee broke during the storm (堤坝溃决).
  • Coastal seawalls (海堤) protect against tidal surges.

Collocations

  • River dike(河堤)
  • Embankment(堤岸)
  • Levee/dam(堤坝)
  • Seawall(海堤)
  • Dike road(堤道)
  • Dike reinforcement(堤防加固)

Idioms

  • Like an ant colony causing a dike to collapse(千里之堤，溃于蚁穴)
  • Strengthen the dike to guard against floods(固堤防洪)
  • Dike building and water control(筑堤治水)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Dikes have been crucial in Chinese civilization for flood control, especially along major rivers like the Yellow River and Yangtze.
  • The character appears in historical records about water management projects dating back to ancient dynasties.
  • Dike maintenance was often a state responsibility, reflecting the importance of water control in Chinese governance.

FAQ