About
Composed of the earth radical "土" and the phonetic component "亢", the character "坑" originally referred specifically to a physical pit or trench dug into the ground. Its meaning gradually expanded from denoting such tangible depressions to encompassing metaphorical voids and traps, thereby acquiring the additional sense of a scheme or predicament designed to ensnare. This semantic broadening allowed the character to convey concepts of deceit or exploitation, as seen in compound verbs where it implies cheating someone. Throughout this conceptual evolution, the character's structure has remained consistent, with the earth radical continuously signaling its fundamental association with the terrestrial realm, while the phonetic element provides a clue to its pronunciation, illustrating how a form rooted in a concrete image can develop more abstract applications within the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
路上有个小坑。
坑里都是水。
这个坑需要填平。
他挖了一个深坑。
小心别掉进坑里。
这个产品坑了不少人。
网上购物要防坑。
那个项目是个无底坑。