zero (unambiguous spoken form when spelling out numbers)
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1699, Hard
洞
dòng
>个[gè]
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1699, Hard
洞
dòng
cave, grotto, hole, ravine
HSK 5, n, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1699, Hard
dòng(dong4) T4
1cave
2hole
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March 24, 2026
洞dòng(dong4)
The character 洞 (dòng) primarily means 'cave' or 'hole,' referring to a natural underground space or an opening in a surface. It can also signify 'zero' when clearly spoken, especially in the context of spelling out numbers, making it important in mathematical and educational settings.
Strokes9Radical氵Frequency#1699DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Caves (洞) hold significant cultural importance in Chinese folklore and history, often associated with mythical creatures and ancient stories. For example, the famous 'Stone Forest' in Yunnan features remarkable caves that are part of local legends.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dark cave (洞) where you might find treasures hidden deep inside. The character looks like a deep hole with a water radical (氵) that suggests depth and fluidity, reminding you of the cave's cool, damp atmosphere.
Meanings of 洞
dòng(dong4)
1cave
2hole
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 洞
洞Simplified
9Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1699Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 洞
Podcast: 洞
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AI Study Notes for 洞
Quick Contrast
洞 (dòng) vs 洞口 (dòngkǒu) — use 洞 for the cave or hole itself, and 洞口 when specifically referring to the opening of the cave or hole.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dark cave (洞) where you might find treasures hidden deep inside. The character looks like a deep hole with a water radical (氵) that suggests depth and fluidity, reminding you of the cave's cool, damp atmosphere.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 洞 (dòng) with similar characters that denote different types of openings or spaces. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in everyday speech. Common collocations include 洞穴 (dòngxué) meaning 'cave' and 洞口 (dòngkǒu) meaning 'cave entrance.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 洞 connects with other Level 5 vocabulary related to nature and geography. Students should focus on using it in sentences that describe locations or natural features, and practice its pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
Cultural Note
Caves (洞) hold significant cultural importance in Chinese folklore and history, often associated with mythical creatures and ancient stories. For example, the famous 'Stone Forest' in Yunnan features remarkable caves that are part of local legends.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 洞 (dòng) with other related characters like 孔 (kǒng), which means 'hole' in a different context, such as a small opening. Remember, 洞 specifically refers to larger openings like caves.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 洞
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Grammar Patterns of 洞
洞 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 5 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.
zhè zhèng shì dòng xué tàn xiǎn zhě hài pà de nà zhǒng hóng shuǐ。
This is the type of flood dreaded by cavers.
2
她有一种洞察他人动机的天赋。
tā yǒu yī zhǒng dòng chá tā rén dòng jī de tiān fù。
She has a natural ability to understand the motives of others.
3
房顶有3个洞，所以空气很清新。
fáng dǐng yǒu3 3 gè， dòng ， suǒ yǐ kōng qì hěn。
The air was fresh, courtesy of three holes in the roof.
4
他吃起东西来肚子像个无底洞。
tā chī qǐ dōng xī lái dù zǐ xiàng gè wú dǐ dòng。
He's a bottomless pit as far as food is concerned.
5
牙医开始在那颗有问题的牙齿上挖洞，钻孔，直到最后把它补好。
yá yī kāi shǐ zài nà kē yǒu wèn tí de yá chǐ shàng wā dòng， ， zuān， kǒng ， zhí dào zuì hòu bǎ tā。
The dentist commenced to dig, drill and finally fill the offending tooth.
6
他那高昂的声音洞彻心扉。
tā nà gāo áng de shēng yīn dòng chè xīn fēi。
His soaring voice cuts straight to the heart.
7
乔治的洞察世情令她叹服。
qiáo zhì de dòng chá shì qíng líng tā tàn fú。
George dazzled her with his knowledge of the world.
8
大水把他冲回到洞里。
dà shuǐ bǎ tā chōng huí dào dòng lǐ。
The force of the water washed him back into the cave.
9
一些独居蜂会把巢筑在田间的地洞里。
yī xiē dú jū fēng huì bǎ cháo zhù zài tián jiān de dì dòng lǐ。
Some solitary bees make their nests in burrows in the soil.
10
任一处的建筑物正面都布满了弹洞。
rèn yī chǔ de jiàn zhù wù zhèng miàn dū bù mǎn le dàn dòng。
Everywhere building facades are pitted with shell and bullet holes.
Cultural Notes for 洞
🏮Cultural insight
Caves (洞) hold significant cultural importance in Chinese folklore and history, often associated with mythical creatures and ancient stories. For example, the famous 'Stone Forest' in Yunnan features remarkable caves that are part of local legends.
Word Family of 洞
Compounds1
霘
Words Containing This Character20
洞dòngcave
漏洞lòudòngleak
洞穴cave
黑洞(astronomy) black hole
山洞cavern
空洞kōngdòngcavity
洞口cave mouth
洞察力insight
洞察to see clearly
防空洞air-raid shelter
洞悉to clearly understand
地洞tunnel
溶洞karst cave
洞庭湖Dongting Lake in northeast Hunan province
漏洞百出lit. one hundred loopholes (idiom); full of mistakes (of speech or article)
洞房bridal room
无底洞bottomless pit無底洞
窑洞CL:孔[kǒng]窯洞
洞窟a cave
洞府cave dwelling
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 洞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 洞
Yes, 洞 (dòng) can be found in idiomatic expressions such as '一无所知' (yī wú suǒ zhī), which literally means 'to know nothing,' emphasizing a lack of understanding or awareness, akin to being in a hole of ignorance.
Common phrases that include 洞 (dòng) are '洞穴' (dòngxué), which means 'cave,' and '洞口' (dòngkǒu), meaning 'cave entrance.' These phrases are useful for discussing natural formations or geological features.
洞 (dòng) means 'cave' or 'hole' in Chinese. It can also refer to 'zero' when spelling out numbers to avoid confusion. This character is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
To use 洞 (dòng) in a sentence, you might say, '山里有一个大洞' (Shān lǐ yǒu yī gè dà dòng), meaning 'There is a big cave in the mountain.' This showcases the literal use of the character in describing a physical space.
The pronunciation is 'dòng' with a falling tone, so make sure to emphasize the drop in your voice.
Yes, 洞 can also imply a 'gap' or 'void' in a more abstract context, such as in discussions about knowledge or experience.
You can use 洞 in phrases like 洞穴 (cave) or 'find a way out of a hole' which translates to 找到出路 (zhǎodào chūlù).
