坑

阬

kēng

亢 + 土

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

kēng (noun) pit; hole

kēng (verb) to defraud; to swindle

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 亢 represents the sound. Simplified form of 阬.

Semantic: 土 Phonetic: 亢

About

坑 is a phonosemantic compound and the simplified form of 阬. The radical 土 ('earth') conveys the meaning, while 亢 provides the sound. It primarily refers to a pit or depression in the ground, whether dug or naturally eroded. Historically, it was also used as a verb meaning to bury people alive, especially captured enemies or scholars. In modern usage, the character has extended to the idea of entrapping, cheating, or defrauding someone, causing a significant loss.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

路上有个小坑。

Lù shàng yǒu gè xiǎo kēng.

There is a small pit on the road.

坑里都是水。

Kēng lǐ dōu shì shuǐ.

The pit is full of water.

这个坑需要填平。

Zhè gè kēng xū yào tián píng.

This pit needs to be filled.

他挖了一个深坑。

Tā wā le yī gè shēn kēng.

He dug a deep pit.

小心别掉进坑里。

Xiǎo xīn bié diào jìn kēng lǐ.

Be careful not to fall into the pit.

这个产品坑了不少人。

Zhè gè chǎn pǐn kēng le bù shǎo rén.

This product has cheated many people.

网上购物要防坑。

Wǎng shàng gòu wù yào fáng kēng.

Online shopping requires guarding against traps.

那个项目是个无底坑。

Nà gè xiàng mù shì gè wú dǐ kēng.

That project is a bottomless pit.

Related Characters

Component: 亢

Component: 土

坑