桥头堡

1. • bridgehead (military)
2. • stronghold serving as a base for advancing further into enemy territory
3. • bridge tower (ornamental structure at either end of a bridge)
4. • gateway (place that provides access to other places beyond it)

     fig.

5. • bridgehead (key location serving as a base for further expansion)

Character by character

• 桥(qiáo)bridge
• 头(tóu)head
• 堡(bǎo)fortress