坝

• Pinyin: bà
• Hanzi breakdown: 坝 = 土 (earth) + 贝 (phonetic)

Meaning

Dam; embankment; dike.

A structure built to hold back water, such as a reservoir dam or river embankment. Also used in place names (e.g., 三峡大坝 Three Gorges Dam).

Examples

1. 三峡大坝是世界上最大的水利工程之一。 The Three Gorges Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the world.
2. 汛期来临之前，必须加固河坝。 Before flood season arrives, the river dam must be reinforced.
3. 这座坝修建于上世纪五十年代，至今仍在使用。 This dam was built in the 1950s and is still in use today.

Usage Guide

Context: engineering, geography

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 大坝拦住了洪水。(The dam held back the floodwaters.)
• 坝体出现了裂缝。(Cracks appeared in the dam structure.)

Don't Say

• 把普通墙壁说成'坝' (Don't call ordinary walls 坝 — it's specifically for water-retaining structures)

Origin & History

Composed of 土 (earth) + 贝 (shell, phonetic). Originally referred to earthen embankments.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal