樑 (liáng) - Beam — refers to a horizontal support beam & also used metaphorically for pillars or mainstays of

樑Tone 2

liáng ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

梁嘹

樑 · liáng

Beam — refers to a horizontal support beam in architecture, particularly a roof beam;

also used metaphorically for pillars or mainstays of society.

Beam — refers to a horizontal support beamalso used metaphorically for pillars or mainstays of

Usage highlights

Roof beamBridge beamPillar of societyBeam and pillarMain beamCrossbeam

Synonyms

  • 梁— beam (simplified/common variant)
  • 栋— ridgepole, main beam

Antonyms

  • 柱— pillar, column (vertical support vs. horizontal beam)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The roof beam supports the entire structure (屋顶樑).
  • He is a pillar of the community (社会栋樑).
  • The bridge's main beam is made of steel (桥梁主樑).
  • Traditional Chinese architecture features intricate beam carvings (雕樑画栋).

Collocations

  • Roof beam(屋樑)
  • Bridge beam(桥樑)
  • Pillar of society(栋樑)
  • Beam and pillar(樑柱)
  • Main beam(主樑)
  • Crossbeam(横樑)

Idioms

  • Carved beams and painted rafters(雕樑画栋)
  • Pillars and beams of society(国家栋樑)
  • Beam of the house(顶樑柱)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, beams (樑) are crucial structural elements that symbolize strength and support.
  • The character is often used metaphorically to describe people who are pillars of their community or organization.
  • In feng shui, the placement and quality of beams are considered important for the energy flow in a building.

FAQ