窟

kū
屈 + 穴

Definitions

kū (noun) cave; cavern

Etymology

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

Semantic: 穴 Phonetic: 屈

About

窟 is a phonosemantic compound: 穴 (cave) provides the meaning of an underground opening, and 屈 gives the pronunciation. It literally refers to a hole, burrow, or cavern, typically dug by animals for shelter or by people for habitation and religious use, as in the famous Buddhist grottoes. The word also carries a figurative sense of a den or hideout, a secret gathering place, often for criminals or illicit activities, with a negative connotation.

Example Sentences Hide

地上有一个窟窿。

Dì shàng yǒu yī gè kūlong.

There is a hole on the ground.

这个石窟很古老。

Zhè gè shíkū hěn gǔlǎo.

This stone cave is very ancient.

孩子们在洞窟里探险。

Háizimen zài dòngkū lǐ tànxiǎn.

The children are exploring in the cave.

贫民窟的生活条件很差。

Pínmínkū de shēnghuó tiáojiàn hěn chà.

The living conditions in the slum are very poor.

艺术家在石窟中雕刻佛像。

Yìshùjiā zài shíkū zhōng diāokè fóxiàng.

Artists carve Buddha statues in the grottoes.

那个窟窿需要尽快修补。

Nà gè kūlong xūyào jǐnkuài xiūbǔ.

That hole needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

传说森林深处有一个魔窟。

Chuánshuō sēnlín shēnchù yǒu yī gè mókū.

Legend has it that there is a demon's den deep in the forest.

考古学家在石窟内部发现了珍贵的壁画。

Kǎogǔxuéjiā zài shíkū nèibù fāxiàn le zhēnguì de bìhuà.

Archaeologists discovered precious murals inside the stone cave.

Related Characters

Component: 屈

掘 崛 倔 堀

Component: 穴

空 究 突 穿 窗 穷 窝 窃 窄 窑 帘 窜 窥 窦

Example Words

魔窟 吴哥窟 石窟 窟窿 贫民窟 洞窟 狡兔三窟 莫高窟 麦积山石窟