塀

• Reading: へい
• Romaji: hei
• Kanji breakdown: 塀 (hei) — wall, fence (outdoor boundary)
• Pronunciation: /heː/

Meaning

Wall; fence. A structure that encloses or divides an area.

A noun specifically for walls and fences that form boundaries around properties, gardens, or areas. Types include: ブロック塀 (burokku hei, concrete block wall), 板塀 (itabei, wooden fence), 石塀 (ishibei, stone wall). Distinguished from 壁 (kabe, wall of a building/room): 塀 is always an outdoor boundary structure, never an interior wall.

Examples

1. 隣の家との間に高い塀がある。 There is a tall wall between our house and the neighbor's.
2. 古いお寺の周りには石の塀が続いている。 A stone wall runs around the old temple.
3. 地震でブロック塀が倒れて道をふさいだ。 A concrete block wall fell over in the earthquake and blocked the road.

Usage Guide

Context: architecture, neighbourhoods, property

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 塀 combines 土 (earth radical) and 屏 elements, indicating an earthen or constructed barrier for enclosing spaces.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal