How to Write 隄 (dī) — Meaning “Dike / Embankment”

Picture the left radical 阝 as a small mound of earth, and the right part 是 as the word "is." Then imagine saying "This mound IS a dike" to link the shape to the meaning of an embankment.

First write the left ear radical 阝 with two strokes: a horizontal bend followed by a vertical hook. Then write the right side 是 carefully: start with the 日 shape (four strokes), then add the bottom strokes of 正, making sure the final diagonal stroke (捺) extends slightly to balance the character.

The key difference is the right side: 隄 has 是 (meaning "to be"), 郗 has 希 (meaning "hope"), and 郛 has 孚 (meaning "trust"). Although all three share the same left radical 阝, their right components change the meaning entirely: 隄 is an embankment, 郗 is a surname, and 郛 is an outer city wall.

隄 is a less common variant of 堤 (which uses the 土 radical), so it appears mostly in older texts or classical literature. In modern Chinese, 堤 is standard for river embankments, but 隄防 (dī fáng) means "to guard against" and is still understood, though often written as 提防 in casual use.

Common words containing 隄 include: 河隄 (hé dī) — River embankment; 隄岸 (dī àn) — Embankment / River bank; 隄防 (dī fáng) — To guard against / Embankment.