壁 (bì) - Wall — refers to a wall, especially a & cliff

壁Tone 4

bì ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

壁 · bì

Wall — refers to a wall, especially a solid vertical structure;

cliff;

barrier;

also used metaphorically for something firm or unyielding.

Wall — refers to a wall, especially acliffbarrier

Usage highlights

WallCliffMuralWall lampWall cabinetSoundproof wall

Synonyms

  • 墙— wall (more general, often man-made)
  • 垣— wall (archaic, often low or enclosing)

Antonyms

  • 门— door/gate (opening vs. barrier)
  • 窗— window (opening vs. solid surface)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Great Wall of China(万里长城)
  • A wall mural(壁画)
  • A cliff face(峭壁)
  • A wall clock(挂壁钟)

Collocations

  • Wall(墙壁)
  • Cliff(峭壁)
  • Mural(壁画)
  • Wall lamp(壁灯)
  • Wall cabinet(壁橱)
  • Soundproof wall(隔音壁)

Idioms

  • Impregnable defense(铜墙铁壁)
  • Flee in defeat(败走麦城，撞壁而逃)
  • A fly dashing itself against a wall(苍蝇碰壁)
  • A stone wall(石壁)
  • A jade wall(玉壁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, walls were crucial for defense, as seen in the Great Wall.
  • 壁 also refers to jade discs (玉壁) used in rituals, symbolizing heaven and authority.
  • In architecture, 壁 denotes both interior walls and natural cliffs, emphasizing solidity.

FAQ