Radical 冂

6 strokes

outer limits 冂 (160a) + piled up (150b) = same 同

This also means “together with”, “along with”.

同时 (105) tóngshí simultaneously

同学 (82) tóngxué classmate

不同 (9) bùtóng different

[同样 (112) tóngyàng same]

At the outer limits of the kingdom were piled up heaps of discarded boxes, all the same. / The fairy used her magic tongs to arrange them in neat piles.

This usually forms a 3-sided enclosure, with another character inside it. Note the hook at the bottom of the second stroke. For the stories, think of the “outer limits of the kingdom” — a desolate, dangerous area of rocky hills, probably inhabited by bandits.