unknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #89102, Very Hard
坷
kě
unfortunate (in life)
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #89102, Very Hard
kě(ke3) T3
1uneven, bumpy; a clod of earth; a lump of soil
2uneven (path)
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March 24, 2026
坷kě(ke3)
The character 坷 (kě) refers to something that is uneven or bumpy, often used to describe rough terrain or paths. It can also denote a clod of earth or a lump of soil, and in a more figurative sense, it may refer to unfortunate circumstances in life.
Strokes8Radical土Frequency#89102DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In rural areas of China, particularly in agricultural regions, the quality of soil and the type of terrain are crucial for farming. The word 坷 reflects the importance of land characteristics in Chinese culture and livelihoods.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bumpy road that makes your car 'kě' (pronounced like 'cur') bounce around. The character 坷 looks like a hill (土 - earth) with a rough surface, reminding you of a rugged path.
Meanings of 坷
kě(ke3)
1uneven, bumpy; a clod of earth; a lump of soil
2uneven (path)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 坷
坷Simplified
8Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 坷
Podcast: 坷
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AI Study Notes for 坷
Quick Contrast
坎 (kǎn) - use 坷 (kě) for uneven terrain or rough paths, while 坎 (kǎn) often refers to a pit or depression in the ground.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bumpy road that makes your car 'kě' (pronounced like 'cur') bounce around. The character 坷 looks like a hill (土 - earth) with a rough surface, reminding you of a rugged path.
Usage Notes
The term 坷 is often used in informal contexts to describe physical surfaces. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; context is crucial for clarity. Common collocations include 坷土 (bumpy soil) and 坷路 (bumpy road).
HSK Study Tips
Although 坷 is not part of the formal HSK vocabulary, it can enhance your understanding of descriptive terms related to geography. Focus on its usage in everyday conversations about nature and physical environments to solidify your grasp.
Cultural Note
In rural areas of China, particularly in agricultural regions, the quality of soil and the type of terrain are crucial for farming. The word 坷 reflects the importance of land characteristics in Chinese culture and livelihoods.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坷 with similar characters like 坍 (tān), which means to collapse. For instance, saying 坷了 (kě le) to mean 'collapsed' is incorrect; use 坍了 instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坷
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Grammar Patterns of 坷
坷 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 2
Complete the Sentence
他一直是她曲折坎____的生活中的主心骨。
He had been a rock in the shifting sands of her existence.
Example Sentences for 坷 (2)
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1
他一直是她曲折坎坷的生活中的主心骨。
tā yī zhí shì tā qū zhē kǎn kē de shēng huó zhōng de zhǔ xīn gǔ。
He had been a rock in the shifting sands of her existence.
2
不管过去经历了什么坎坷，吉尔现在似乎都已经挺过来了。
bù guǎn guò qù jīng lì le shí mó kǎn kē， ， jí ěr xiàn zài sì hū dū yǐ jīng tǐng guò lái。
Whatever the vicissitudes of her past life, Jill now seems to have come through.
Cultural Notes for 坷
🏮Cultural insight
In rural areas of China, particularly in agricultural regions, the quality of soil and the type of terrain are crucial for farming. The word 坷 reflects the importance of land characteristics in Chinese culture and livelihoods.
Word Family of 坷
Words Containing This Character5
坎坷bumpy (of a road)
坷kěuneven (path)
坎坷不平potholed and bumpy road (idiom); fig. full of disappointment and dashed hopes
坷垃(dialect) clod (of earth)
命途坎坷to have a tough life
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 坎坷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 坷
You can use 不平 (bù píng) which means uneven or rough, as a synonym in contexts describing terrain.
No, 坷 is typically used in informal contexts; formal writing would usually opt for more standard terms.
While primarily physical, you can use 坷 metaphorically to describe a difficult or unfortunate situation, but it's less common.
