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March 24, 2026
掘jué(jue2)
The character 掘 (jué) means 'to dig' or 'to excavate.' It is commonly used in contexts related to digging into the ground, such as construction, mining, or gardening. The nuance of this term often conveys a sense of deeper digging or exploration, rather than just surface-level activity.
Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#8780DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, digging often symbolizes uncovering hidden knowledge or wisdom, as seen in traditional practices like feng shui, where digging and placement of objects can influence energy flows. The act of digging in ancient times was also crucial for agriculture, which has shaped societal development.
Memory Tip
Imagine a joyful archaeologist (sounds like 'jué') digging in the earth to uncover hidden treasures. The character 掘 has the hand radical (扌), symbolizing the action of digging, and the 'mouth' component (口) indicating that what is uncovered may be valuable or worth talking about.
Meanings of 掘
jué(jue2)
1to dig
2to dig, to excavate
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 掘
掘Simplified
11Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8780Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 掘
Podcast: 掘
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AI Study Notes for 掘
Quick Contrast
挖 (wā) - use 掘 (jué) when emphasizing deeper excavation or exploration, while 挖 (wā) often refers to digging in a more general or surface-level sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a joyful archaeologist (sounds like 'jué') digging in the earth to uncover hidden treasures. The character 掘 has the hand radical (扌), symbolizing the action of digging, and the 'mouth' component (口) indicating that what is uncovered may be valuable or worth talking about.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 掘 (jué), as using the wrong tone could change the meaning. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as academic discussions about excavation, rather than casual conversations. Common collocations include '掘土' (digging soil) and '掘井' (digging a well).
HSK Study Tips
This character is not included in the standard HSK levels but can be useful for learners progressing towards HSK 5 and beyond. Focus on understanding its usage in compound words and phrases related to construction or archaeology, as this will help reinforce vocabulary connections.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, digging often symbolizes uncovering hidden knowledge or wisdom, as seen in traditional practices like feng shui, where digging and placement of objects can influence energy flows. The act of digging in ancient times was also crucial for agriculture, which has shaped societal development.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 掘 (jué) with 切 (qiē), which means 'to cut.' For example, saying '我想切土' (I want to cut the soil) instead of '我想掘土' (I want to dig the soil) is incorrect. Always use 掘 for actions involving digging.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 掘
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Grammar Patterns of 掘
掘 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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 4
Complete the Sentence
考古学家在发____之初就知道他们将有重大发现。
Archaeologists knew they were onto something big when they started digging.
Rescue workers are digging through the rubble in search of other victims.
8
他们试着在洞穴正下方的一块地上挖掘。
tā mén shì zháo zài dòng xué zhèng xià fāng de yī kuài dì shàng wā jué。
They tried digging in a patch just below the cave.
9
树干的浓阴里那个人把交叉的双腿放开,用脚趾掘着泥土.
shù gān de nóng yīn lǐ nà gè rén bǎ jiāo chā de shuāng tuǐ fàng kāi, , yòng jiǎo zhǐ jué zháo ní.
The man in the absolute shade uncrossed his legs and dug with toes at the earth.
10
这些刚发掘出来的物品需要及时保护。
zhè xiē gāng fā jué chū lái de wù pǐn xū yào jí shí bǎo hù。
In time these new excavations will require conservation.
Cultural Notes for 掘
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, digging often symbolizes uncovering hidden knowledge or wisdom, as seen in traditional practices like feng shui, where digging and placement of objects can influence energy flows. The act of digging in ancient times was also crucial for agriculture, which has shaped societal development.
Word Family of 掘
Words Containing This Character11
挖掘wājuéto dig
发掘fājuéto excavate發掘
掘juéto dig
自掘坟墓to dig one's own grave自掘墳墓
挖掘机excavator挖掘機
采掘to excavate採掘
开掘to excavate開掘
掘土机excavator掘土機
临渴掘井lit. not to dig a well until one is thirsty臨渴掘井
掘墓鞭尸to exhume a body for public flogging (idiom)掘墓鞭屍
罗雀掘鼠on the verge of bankruptcy羅雀掘鼠
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 挖掘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 掘
It is pronounced as jué, with a rising tone.
Yes, for example: 我们要掘井以便获取水。(We need to dig a well to obtain water.)
While it primarily refers to physical digging, it can also be used metaphorically to describe digging into topics or issues.
