About
The character 窬 (yú) is a phono-semantic compound describing a small structural opening, such as a hole cut into a wall for passage or ventilation. Its semantic radical 穴 (xué), meaning "cave" or "aperture", defines the spatial nature of the opening, while the phonetic component 俞 (yú) provides the pronunciation. Historically, it often described the act of secretly passing through such openings, most famously in the idiom "穿窬之盗" (chuān yú zhī dào), referring to a thief who bores through walls. As it relates to architectural features and methods specific to ancient Chinese dwellings, the character is now archaic, having been largely replaced by more general modern terms for doors, holes, and climbing.
Etymology Hide
