墙壁

• Pinyin: qiáng bì
• Hanzi breakdown: 墙 = 土 (earth) + 啬, wall; 壁 = 辟 + 土, wall/partition

Meaning

Wall; walls. The vertical structure forming the sides of a building or room.

More formal than just 墙. Often used when describing wall surfaces: 粉刷墙壁 (paint walls), 墙壁装饰 (wall decoration). Can be metaphorical: 无形的墙壁 (invisible wall/barrier).

Examples

1. 这间房子的墙壁需要重新粉刷了。 The walls of this house need to be repainted.
2. 孩子们在墙壁上画满了涂鸦。 The children drew graffiti all over the walls.
3. 薄薄的墙壁根本隔不住隔壁的声音。 The thin walls can't block the sound from next door at all.

Usage Guide

Context: construction, home, decoration

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 墙壁上挂着几幅画。(Several paintings hang on the wall.)
• 他靠在墙壁上休息。(He leaned against the wall to rest.)

Don't Say

• 外面墙壁很高。(For exterior walls, 围墙 or 外墙 is more appropriate than 墙壁)

Origin & History

墙 (qiáng, wall) + 壁 (bì, wall/partition). Reduplication emphasizing walls as surfaces.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal