坝 bà embankment
embankment; dam; plain; dike
How to remember 坝: 土 earth + 贝 sea shell = embankment. Grandpa and the kids shovel wet earth and press a sea shell on top, proud of the little stream's new embankment.
Component breakdown
坝 = 土 earth + 贝 sea shell
- 土 earth
- 贝 sea shell
Grandpa and the kids shovel wet earth and press a sea shell on top, proud of the little stream's new embankment.
How it is used
- A dam/embankment: 大坝 (dàbà) a great dam, 堤坝 (dībà) dikes and dams.
- In the southwest (Sichuan etc.) 坝子 (bàzi) also means a flat plain/open ground.