堡bǎo

堡

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

Simplified form (簡體). 堡 (bǎo, "fortress, stronghold") remains unchanged from its traditional counterpart, combining the earth radical 土 with 保 ("to protect") to literally depict earthworks raised in defense. This logical fusion of ground and guard makes it the root of 城堡 (chéngbǎo, castle), 堡垒 (bǎolěi, fortress) and 碉堡 (diāobǎo, pillbox).

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Shuowen

堡. In oracle bone the character depicted a fortified earthwork, a mound of earth with a protective structure. The left side 土 indicates earth, the right side 保 gives both sound and the idea of protection, so the character came to mean a stronghold or fortress.

Pinyin

bǎo· HSK 2

堡bǎo

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin