籬 (lí) - Hedge & fence

籬Tone 2

lí ｜ 24 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

籬 · lí

Hedge;

fence;

bamboo fence;

enclosure;

barrier.

Hedgefencebamboo fence

Usage highlights

Bamboo fenceWoven fenceEastern hedgeFence wallThorn hedgeGreen hedge

Synonyms

  • 柵— fence, palisade
  • 欄— railing, fence
  • 垣— wall, enclosure

Antonyms

  • 門— gate, entrance (opening vs. barrier)
  • 路— road, path (passage vs. enclosure)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The garden is surrounded by a bamboo fence (竹籬).
  • They live next door (隔壁鄰居).
  • The chrysanthemums bloom by the eastern hedge (東籬菊).
  • A fence made of woven bamboo (籬笆).

Collocations

  • Bamboo fence(竹籬)
  • Woven fence(籬笆)
  • Eastern hedge(東籬)
  • Fence wall(籬牆)
  • Thorn hedge(荊籬)
  • Green hedge(綠籬)

Idioms

  • Chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge(採菊東籬下)
  • Repair the sheep pen after losing the sheep(亡羊補牢, not directly containing 籬 but related)
  • Three paths by the hedge(三徑就荒, 松菊猶存)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally made from bamboo or other plants, representing rustic, pastoral life.
  • In poetry, 'eastern hedge' (東籬) evokes Tao Yuanming's pastoral ideal and chrysanthemum appreciation.
  • Symbolizes seclusion, simplicity, and harmony with nature in classical Chinese literature.

FAQ