壁
壁·wall
- On-yomi
- ヘキ
- Kun-yomi
- かべ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 壁 | かべ | wall |
| 障壁 | しょうへき | barrier |
| 壁紙 | かべがみ | wallpaper |
| 絶壁 | ぜっぺき | sheer cliff |
Example sentences
壁に大きな地図を貼った。
かべにおおきなちずをはった。
I put a big map on the wall.
言葉の壁を越えるには時間がかかる。
ことばのかべをこえるにはじかんがかかる。
It takes time to get over the language barrier.
両国の間には高い貿易障壁がある。
りょうこくのあいだにはたかいぼうえきしょうへきがある。
There are high trade barriers between the two countries.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
- 壁璧璧 (jewel, as in 完璧) has 玉 at the bottom where 壁 has 土.
- 壁癖癖 (habit) wraps the same 辟 in the sickness radical 疒.
Common mistakes
- Writing 完璧 (perfect) as 完壁 — that word takes the jewel 璧, not the earth 壁
- Reading 絶壁 as ぜつへき — it is ぜっぺき
Memory aid
Picture it
Earth 土 at the bottom holding everything up: a wall built of packed earth, which is exactly what old walls were.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 壁 mean?