About
The character "挖" is structured with the hand radical on the left, indicating manual action, combined with the component "穵" on the right, which historically carries connotations of hollowing or burrowing. This phono-semantic composition directly aligns with the character's original meaning of using hands or tools to gouge or scoop out material, such as earth or soil. Over time, while retaining this fundamental sense of physical excavation, the character has expanded into metaphorical domains, as seen in terms like "挖苦", where it implies digging into someone with sharp or sarcastic words, or "挖掘", which can refer to unearthing both physical objects and abstract information. Its form, centered on the interplay between the hand and the act of creating a cavity, has remained largely consistent, emphasizing the enduring link between its etymology and its functional use in denoting removal or exposure through deliberate effort.
Example Sentences Hide
他在挖土。
孩子们在沙滩挖洞。
工人们正在挖掘地基。
考古学家仔细挖掘文物。
他们挖出了一条地下通道。
公司想挖走竞争对手的人才。
工程师们正在挖掘数据中的潜在规律。
为了可持续发展，我们不能过度挖掘自然资源。