擁壁

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 擁壁 (ようへき) combines supporting 擁 and wall 壁 to denote a wall that retains earth or a slope.
• Basic usage: It is built to prevent slope collapse and is inspected for structural cracks.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A supporting wall, not merely a boundary
  • The defining role of a 擁壁 is resisting the pressure of retained soil, rather than simply dividing two spaces.