楣 (méi) - Lintel — the horizontal beam above a door & also refers to a threshold or doorway.

楣Tone 2

méi ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

楣 · méi

Lintel — the horizontal beam above a door or window;

also refers to a threshold or doorway.

Lintel — the horizontal beam above a dooralso refers to a threshold or doorway.

Usage highlights

Door lintelWindow lintelLintel beamUpper lintelStone lintelFamily honor

Synonyms

  • 门框— door frame (includes the lintel as part of the structure)
  • 横梁— crossbeam (general term for horizontal structural beams)

Antonyms

  • 门槛— threshold (the bottom part of the doorway, opposite to lintel)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The carved lintel (门楣) was beautifully decorated.
  • They installed a new door frame with lintel (门楣).
  • The window lintel (窗楣) needed repair.
  • Family honor is sometimes called the 'lintel's glory' (门楣之光).

Collocations

  • Door lintel(门楣)
  • Window lintel(窗楣)
  • Lintel beam(楣梁)
  • Upper lintel(上楣)
  • Stone lintel(石楣)
  • Family honor(门楣)

Idioms

  • Bring honor to one's family(光耀门楣)
  • To disgrace one's family(辱没门楣)
  • Uphold the family honor(支撑门楣)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, the lintel (门楣) was often elaborately carved with auspicious symbols.
  • The term '门楣' metaphorically represents family status and honor, as it was the prominent visible part of a household's entrance.
  • In feng shui, the lintel is considered important for maintaining positive energy flow through doorways.

FAQ