wall · fence

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 塀 denotes a boundary wall or fence around a house or garden; its on-reading is へい.
• Basic usage: 塀(へい) means a wall or fence, while 土塀(どべい) means an earthen wall.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A wall named by its material
  • 木の塀 is a wooden fence, while 土塀 is an earthen wall. Initial 土 identifies the material.
  • In 土塀, the 塀 part is read べい. Learn this alongside the standalone reading へい.