堤

dike, bank, embankment

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes12

Meaning

堤 centers on a raised barrier of earth built to hold back water: a dike, bank, or embankment.

堤 combines 土 (earth) with 是, which likely contributes the sound. The character expresses an earthen embankment.

The left side is earth 土, and the right side 是 looks like a straight, raised path. Picture a long mound of earth built up to hold back water.

For テイ, imagine a sturdy earthen dike shaped like the letter T: T -> テイ, and the T-shaped embankment holds back the river.

Study

堤 combines 土 (earth) with 是, which likely contributes the sound. The character expresses an earthen embankment.

The left side is earth 土, and the right side 是 looks like a straight, raised path. Picture a long mound of earth built up to hold back water.

For テイ, imagine a sturdy earthen dike shaped like the letter T: T -> テイ, and the T-shaped embankment holds back the river.