囲い繞じょう

also: いにょう

い

じょ

う

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

Literary or technical term for surrounding or enclosing something. Rare in everyday speech; 囲む (かこむ) or 包囲 (ほうい) are more common.

城しろは高たかい壁かべで囲い繞じょうされていた。
The castle was surrounded by high walls.
その庭てい園えんは生

い

け

垣がき

で

囲い

繞じょう

さ

れ

て

いる

。

The garden is enclosed by a hedge.

Written forms

囲繞Usage100%
- いじょう
  Rare kanji spelling; the second character 繞 is not a jōyō kanji. The reading いじょう is restricted to this form.
- いにょう
囲いにょう
Mixed kanji-kana spelling for the reading いにょう, used when the second character is difficult to write or read.
いにょう
Kana spelling for the more common reading いにょう; practical for learners and everyday writing.

Kanji

囲surround, besiege, store
繞surround, return

Similar words

囲かこむ
Common verb for 'to surround'; 囲繞 is a rare, formal noun/suru-verb with a similar meaning but used in literary or technical contexts.
包ほう囲い
Common noun/suru-verb for 'encirclement' or 'siege'; 囲繞 is more abstract and less frequent.

Etymology

Compound of 囲 (い, 'surround') and 繞 (じょう/にょう, 'surround' or 'wind around'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of surrounding or enclosing.