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堀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
堀kūcave, holezg, 11 strokes, radical 土, rank #25445, Very Hard
kū(ku1) T1
  1. 1cave, hole
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

堀kū(ku1)

The character 堀 (kū) primarily means 'cave' or 'hole.' It is commonly used in contexts related to excavation or natural formations, often implying a depth or hollow space. This character can also refer to artificial holes, such as ditches or moats.

Strokes11Radical土Frequency#25445DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, caves are often associated with historical significance, such as ancient dwellings or burial sites. The famous Mogao Caves, for example, are renowned for their Buddhist art and history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'K' (for kū) digging into the ground, creating a deep hole or cave. The left part of 堀 resembles a person (亻) digging, while the right part (土) represents earth. Visualize the person creating a cave in the earth, making it easier to remember the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 堀

kū(ku1)
1cave, hole
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 堀

堀Simplified
11Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 堀

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Podcast: 堀

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AI Study Notes for 堀

Usage Notes

When using 堀 in sentences, be mindful of the context, as it often appears in technical or geographical discussions. Common collocations include 'cave system' or 'drainage hole.' Be cautious of tonal errors, as the tone of kū (fourth tone) can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

Although 堀 is not an HSK word, it connects with other HSK vocabulary related to geography and nature, such as 山 (mountain) and 河 (river). Students should focus on recognizing the character's components to better understand its meaning and usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 堀 with 洞 (dòng), which can lead to incorrect usage in contexts. For example, saying '我去堀' instead of '我去洞' when referring to going into a cave is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 堀

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Etymology of 堀

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)屈
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 堀

  1. 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half屈 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayearth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 堀? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 堀?

Decomposition of 堀

IDS Structure⿰土屈
堀Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
屈Qu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 堀?

How to say cave, hole in Chinese

“cave, hole” in Chinese is堀kū

The character 堀 (kū) primarily means 'cave' or 'hole.' It is commonly used in contexts related to excavation or natural formations, often implying a depth or hollow space. This character can also refer to artificial holes, such as ditches or moats.

When to use 堀

When using 堀 in sentences, be mindful of the context, as it often appears in technical or geographical discussions. Common collocations include 'cave system' or 'drainage hole.' Be cautious of tonal errors, as the tone of kū (fourth tone) can change the meaning if mispronounced.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 堀 with 洞 (dòng), which can lead to incorrect usage in contexts. For example, saying '我去堀' instead of '我去洞' when referring to going into a cave is a common error.

Write 堀

堀

Practice writing 堀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 堀

Words Containing This Character1
堀kūcave
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 堀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 堀

It is pronounced as 'kū' with a fourth tone.

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