HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8780, Very Hard
掘
jué
to dig, to excavate
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8780, Very Hard
jué(jue2)jue T2
1to dig
2to dig, to excavate
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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#8780DifficultyVery Hard
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 掘 means.
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.
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.
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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How Well Do You Know 掘?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 掘 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
掘 = 扌 + 屈. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 掘
IDS Structure⿰扌屈
掘Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
屈Qu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 掘?
How to say to dig in Chinese
“to dig” in Chinese is掘jué
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.
When to use 掘
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).
掘 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 掘
掘
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Practice writing 掘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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.
