How to Write 垒 (lěi) — Meaning “to build by stacking; rampart”

Imagine a private (厶) area where you stack earth (土) to build a small fortress. This visual connects the top and bottom parts to the character's meaning of stacking to create a rampart.

The top part 厶 must be written with three strokes: a left-falling line, a horizontal line, and a right-falling line. Avoid making the top too wide; it should sit neatly above the 土 radical, which is written with three strokes as well.

圻 (qi) means boundary and contains the radical 土 with 斤 (axe), while 圼 (niè) is rare and means soil pit. In contrast, 垒 always involves stacking or building, and its top is 厶, not 斤 or another element.

垒 appears in words like 垒球 (softball, literally 'stacked ball'), 堡垒 (fortress), and 垒墙 (to build a wall). Softball is a popular sport in China, and 堡垒 often appears in military or metaphorical contexts like 'stronghold'.

Common words containing 垒 include: 垒球 (lěi qiú) — softball; 垒墙 (lěi qiáng) — to build a wall; 堡垒 (bǎo lěi) — fortress / bastion.