Meaning of 堆
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to pile up
- to heap up
- a mass
- pile
- heap
- stack
- large amount
How to use 堆
堆 works as a verb (to pile up), a noun (a pile), and very often as a measure word for heaps or for a lot of something, including abstract things like problems or work. 桌子上有一堆书。(Zhuōzi shang yǒu yī duī shū.) There is a pile of books on the table.
堆 combines 土 (tǔ, earth) on the left with 隹 (zhuī) on the right, which also hints at the sound duī. Picture a bird 隹 perched on top of a heap of earth 土, and you have a pile.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 堆 with 推 (tuī, to push), which has the same right side but uses the hand radical 扌 instead of 土. Remember that earth 土 piles up, and a hand 扌 pushes.
堆 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
堆 duī · to pile up · 11 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 堆.
Questions about 堆
What does 堆 mean?
堆 (duī) means "to pile up; to heap up" and is used as a verb, noun and measure word.
How do you write 堆?
堆 is made of 1 character: 堆 (11 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 堆 an HSK word?
Yes. 堆 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 一堆 be used for people or abstract things?
Yes. In casual speech 一堆 means a bunch or a lot, as in 一堆人 (yī duī rén, a crowd of people) or 一堆问题 (yī duī wèntí, a lot of problems). It can sound a bit informal or slightly negative, suggesting a messy amount.
What is the difference between 堆积 and 堆砌?
堆积 (duījī) simply means things pile up or accumulate, like snow or unfinished work. 堆砌 (duīqì) literally means to lay bricks, but it is often used figuratively for writing stuffed with fancy words, which is a criticism.