砦 (zhài) - Fort, stockade, military stronghold & variant of 寨 meaning village or camp.

砦Tone 4

zhài ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

砦 · zhài

Fort, stockade, military stronghold;

variant of 寨 meaning village or camp.

Fort, stockade, military strongholdvariant of 寨 meaning village or camp.

Usage highlights

Mountain fortMilitary stockadeDefensive strongholdFortressVillage stockadeAncient fort

Synonyms

  • 寨— fort, stockade, village
  • 堡— fort, fortress
  • 垒— fortress, rampart

Antonyms

  • 野— wilderness, open field (opposite of fortified area)
  • 平— plain, flat (opposite of fortified stronghold)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient mountain fort (砦) was strategically located.
  • They built a defensive stockade (砦) around the camp.
  • The military stronghold (砦) was difficult to attack.
  • The village (砦) was protected by high walls.

Collocations

  • Mountain fort(山寨)
  • Military stockade(营砦)
  • Defensive stronghold(守砦)
  • Fortress(砦堡)
  • Village stockade(村砦)
  • Ancient fort(古砦)

Idioms

  • To guard the fort and defend the territory(守砦卫土)
  • Abandon the fort and flee(弃砦而逃)
  • Build a fort and store provisions(筑砦积粮)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 砦 refers to fortified military camps or defensive structures, often built in strategic locations like mountains or passes.
  • Historically used for military defense during wartime, later extended to mean fortified villages.
  • The character is a variant of 寨, both sharing the meaning of fortified camps or villages.

FAQ