How to Write 垌 (dòng) — Meaning “field (in a valley)”

Imagine a rectangular valley shaped like the character 同, with earth (土) piled inside to create flat farmland. The left side 土 looks like a small mound, and the right side 同 like a curved valley. This visual of earth inside a valley helps you recall 垌 means 'field in a valley'.

The left radical 土 should be narrow and positioned slightly higher, while the right part 同 must be wider and balanced. A common mistake is making the 同 too tall or squeezing it, so keep the central opening of 同 spacious. Also note that the vertical stroke of 土 stops before the bottom, unlike when it appears alone.

垌 (dòng) has the right component 同 (same/valley) and means 'field in a valley', while 圻 (qí) has 斤 (axe) on the right and means 'boundary' or 'limit'. 圼 (niè) is very rare, but it also uses 土 with 日 (sun) and typically means a kind of mound or pile. Visually, remember 垌's right side looks like a valley opening, not a sharp axe or a sun.

垌 is not in the HSK vocabulary and is mainly used in place names or farming terms in southern China, like 垌田 (dòng tián, valley fields) or 山垌 (shān dòng, mountain valley). You might encounter it on maps of Guangxi or Guangdong provinces, where many villages are named after 垌. It is a very specific character describing a type of agricultural landscape.

Common words containing 垌 include: 垌田 (dòng tián) — valley fields; 山垌 (shān dòng) — Mountain valley; 垌子 (dòng zi) — small field.