Japanese word

塀

Pronunciation

Romajihei

Meaning

  • nounwall

Example

家の塀を白く塗ります。ie no hei o shiro ku nu ri ma su

I paint the wall of my house white.

Illustration for 塀 (wall)

More examples

子どもが塀の向こうから手を振っています。ko do mo ga hei no mu kō ka ra te o fu tte i ma su

A child is waving from the other side of the wall.

Core concept

Describes a boundary structure that separates a home or property from the space outside.

Common phrases

  • 塀を乗り越えるhei o no ri ko e ru

    climb over a wall

  • 塀の向こうhei no mu kō

    the other side of a wall

  • 塀に囲まれた庭hei ni kako ma re ta niwa

    a garden enclosed by a wall

Similar words

柵saku: A framework that blocks passage while allowing some view through its openings.
垣根kakine: A planted or constructed boundary that marks the edge of a garden or property.
囲いkakoi: A barrier placed around a place to enclose or protect it.

Definition in Japanese

敷地の境界などに設けて、内外を仕切る壁状の構造物。shiki chi no kyō kai na do ni mō ke te nai gai o shi ki ru kabe jō no kō zō butsu

Word origin

塀 (hei) is a Japanese form related to 屏 (hei), a character for a screen or partition; its Sino-Japanese reading hei became the usual reading of the word.

Usage tips

  • English usually distinguishes a wall from a fence by the material or solidity, while 塀 (hei) can refer to either kind of boundary around a Japanese home or property.

Other meanings

  • fencenoun

Word lists with this word