窠

kē

果 + 穴

Definitions

kē nest

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 果 represents the sound.

Semantic: 穴 Phonetic: 果

About

窠 is a phono-semantic compound: 穴 (cave, hole) on top indicates a cavity or dwelling, while 果 below provides the pronunciation. The character originally referred to a hole in the ground used as a burrow, nest, or resting place by animals, birds, and insects. Over time, it extended to human dwellings, door frames, and eventually to clichéd or rigidly formulaic patterns in art and literature.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

蜂窠挂在高枝上。

Fēngkē guà zài gāo zhī shàng.

The beehive hangs on a high branch.

他发现了树上的鸟窠。

Tā fāxiàn le shù shàng de niǎokē.

He discovered the bird's nest in the tree.

这些蜜蜂正在建造新蜂窠。

Zhèxiē mìfēng zhèngzài jiànzào xīn fēngkē.

These bees are building a new beehive.

她的思维摆脱了旧窠臼。

Tā de sīwéi bǎituō le jiù kējiù.

Her thinking broke free from old stereotypes.

艺术家们力求突破传统窠臼。

Yìshùjiāmen lìqiú tūpò chuántǒng kējiù.

Artists strive to break through traditional conventions.

这篇文章的结构落入俗套窠臼。

Zhè piān wénzhāng de jiégòu luòrù sútào kējiù.

The structure of this article falls into clichéd stereotypes.

在创新中，避免陷入前人窠臼很重要。

Zài chuàngxīn zhōng, bìmiǎn xiànrù qiánrén kējiù hěn zhòngyào.

In innovation, it is important to avoid falling into the stereotypes of predecessors.

他的设计完全脱离了现代建筑的窠臼。

Tā de shèjì wánquán tuōlí le xiàndài jiànzhù de kējiù.

His design completely breaks away from the conventions of modern architecture.

Related Characters

Component: 果

Component: 穴

窠