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垔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
垔yīnto restrain; to dam a stream and change its direction; a moundzg, 9 strokes, radical 土
yīn(yin1) T1
  1. 1to restrain; to dam a stream and change its direction; a mound
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March 24, 2026

垔yīn(yin1)

The character 垔 (yīn) primarily refers to the act of restraining or damming a stream, thereby altering its direction. It can also refer to a mound or elevated ground. This character is commonly used in contexts related to water management and natural landscapes.

Strokes9Radical土
Cultural Note

Damming streams is an important practice in Chinese agriculture and flood control, reflecting the deep connection between Chinese culture and the management of water resources.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small dam made of mounds of earth (垔) holding back a stream. The sound 'yīn' can be remembered by picturing the water 'yin' (like a gentle whisper) as it flows behind the dam, creating a peaceful scene.

Meanings of 垔

yīn(yin1)
1to restrain; to dam a stream and change its direction; a mound
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 垔

垔Simplified
9Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 垔

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Podcast: 垔

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AI Study Notes for 垔

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 垔 with similar-sounding characters. It is relatively formal and not commonly used in casual conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to water management or landscaping.

HSK Study Tips

While 垔 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other water-related terms you may encounter at higher levels. Focus on understanding its components and context in literature or discussions about nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 垔 as 'yīn' when they intend to use a different character with a similar sound. For example, confusing it with 音 (yīn, meaning 'sound'). Always double-check the context to ensure correct usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 垔

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Etymology of 垔

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Origin unclear.

Memory Hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)西
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 垔

Origin unclear.

  1. 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half西 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayearth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 垔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 垔?

Decomposition of 垔

IDS Structure⿱西土
垔Full Character
=
西Xi1
top
土Tu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 垔?

How to say to restrain; to dam a stream and change its direction; a mound in Chinese

“to restrain; to dam a stream and change its direction; a mound” in Chinese is垔yīn

The character 垔 (yīn) primarily refers to the act of restraining or damming a stream, thereby altering its direction. It can also refer to a mound or elevated ground. This character is commonly used in contexts related to water management and natural landscapes.

When to use 垔

Be careful not to confuse 垔 with similar-sounding characters. It is relatively formal and not commonly used in casual conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to water management or landscaping.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 垔 as 'yīn' when they intend to use a different character with a similar sound. For example, confusing it with 音 (yīn, meaning 'sound'). Always double-check the context to ensure correct usage.

Write 垔

垔

Practice writing 垔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 垔

It is pronounced as 'yīn'.

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