墩 (dūn) - Mound, hillock & block, pier

墩Tone 1

dūn ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

墩 · dūn

Mound, hillock;

block, pier;

used in names for something thick and sturdy.

Mound, hillockblock, pierused in names for something thick and sturdy.

Usage highlights

bridge piertree stumpmound of earthvillage moundstone blockfat and sturdy

Synonyms

  • 丘— hillock, mound
  • 堆— pile, heap
  • 基— foundation, base

Antonyms

  • 尖— pointed, sharp
  • 薄— thin, flimsy

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There is a small mound in the field (田里有个土墩).
  • The bridge rests on sturdy piers (桥墩).
  • He sat on a tree stump (树墩).
  • The village is called Wangjiadun (王家墩).

Collocations

  • bridge pier(桥墩)
  • tree stump(树墩)
  • mound of earth(土墩)
  • village mound(村墩)
  • stone block(石墩)
  • fat and sturdy(胖墩墩)

Idioms

  • Sitting firmly like a mountain(稳如墩石)
  • Thick and sturdy(敦敦实实)
  • Fat and cute child(胖墩儿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in place names, especially in northern China, to denote villages built on or near mounds.
  • In architecture, refers to foundational supports like bridge piers, conveying stability.
  • The character carries connotations of sturdiness, reliability, and earthiness.

FAQ