How to Write 垅 (lǒng) — Meaning “ridge (in a field)”

Imagine a dragon (龙) lying along a ridge of earth (土) in a field. This visual picture helps you remember that 垅 means a ridge, and the right side shows the sound.

Write the left side 土 with three strokes first (horizontal, vertical, horizontal), then the right side 龙 with five strokes. Keep the 土 narrow and slightly higher, while the 龙 part is wider and extends slightly lower. A common mistake is to write the right side too small or mix up the dot at the end of 龙.

垅 has the right component 龙, while 在 uses 才 (meaning 'at' or 'exist') and 圩 uses 于 (meaning 'dike' or 'market'). In meaning, 垅 refers to a field ridge, 在 is a preposition, and 圩 indicates an embankment or fair. Visually, the right sides are distinct, so compare the stroke patterns carefully.

垅 appears in agricultural terms like 田垅 (field ridge) and 垅沟 (furrow), mostly in farming or literature. It is less common than the standard variant 垄, but you may see it in older texts, place names, or surnames. It is not taught in HSK, so you'll only need it for specialized reading.

Common words containing 垅 include: 田垅 (tián lǒng) — ridge in a field; 垅沟 (lǒng gōu) — furrow; 垅亩 (lǒng mǔ) — farmland; ridges and fields.