塔 (tǎ) - Tower, pagoda — a tall structure, often religious

塔Tone 3

tǎ ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

塔 · tǎ

Tower, pagoda — a tall structure, often religious (Buddhist stupa), or a tower-like building.

Tower, pagoda — a tall structure, often religious

Usage highlights

PagodaTowerLighthouseControl towerWater towerPyramid

Synonyms

  • 楼— tower, multi-storied building

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The pagoda is a Buddhist structure (佛塔).
  • We climbed the Eiffel Tower (埃菲尔铁塔).
  • There is a lighthouse on the coast (灯塔).
  • The control tower manages air traffic (控制塔).

Collocations

  • Pagoda(佛塔)
  • Tower(塔楼)
  • Lighthouse(灯塔)
  • Control tower(控制塔)
  • Water tower(水塔)
  • Pyramid(金字塔)

Idioms

  • The Tower of Babel(巴别塔)
  • Solitary peak stands aloof(孤峰塔影)
  • Pagoda piercing the clouds(宝塔凌云)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 塔 originated as a translation for the Buddhist stupa, a reliquary mound structure.
  • In Chinese architecture, pagodas evolved into multi-storied towers, often built at temples.
  • The character appears in many place names and landmarks across China and Buddhist Asia.

FAQ