HSK 7, nrt, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9731, Very Hard
坎
kǎn
threshold
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9731, Very Hard
坎
kǎn
one of the Eight Trigrams 八卦[ba1 gua4], symbolizing water
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9731, Very Hard
坎
kǎn
☵
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9731, Very Hard
kǎn(kan3)kan T3
1pit, hole; to trap, to snare; crisis
2threshold
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
坎kǎn(kan3)
The character 坎 (kǎn) primarily refers to a pit or hole, often symbolizing a state of being trapped or ensnared. It can also denote a crisis or threshold, representing challenges one may face. In the context of the Eight Trigrams, it symbolizes water and the concept of depth and danger.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#9731DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese philosophy, 坎 is one of the Eight Trigrams used in the I Ching (易经), which plays a significant role in traditional Chinese thought, fortune-telling, and decision-making.
Memory Tip
Imagine a deep pit (坎) that traps you inside. The top part '土' (earth) represents the ground, while the bottom part '艮' (gen) suggests a boundary or limit, evoking the feeling of being stuck. The pronunciation 'kǎn' can be remembered by picturing a can of water that has fallen into this pit.
Meanings of 坎
kǎn(kan3)
1pit, hole; to trap, to snare; crisis
2threshold
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 坎 means.
About 坎
坎Simplified
7Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 坎
Podcast: 坎
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AI Study Notes for 坎
Quick Contrast
坎 (kǎn) vs 陷 (xiàn) — use 坎 for a pit or hole, while 陷 refers to being trapped in a more figurative sense.
Usage Notes
Avoid confusing 坎 (kǎn) with similar characters like 坐 (zuò), which means 'to sit.' This word is often used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about philosophy or the I Ching (易经). Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation, as it can easily be mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
While 坎 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it offers a good opportunity to connect with characters related to water or crisis. Students should focus on recognizing its use in literary and philosophical texts, as well as its relationship to the Eight Trigrams.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坎 (kǎn) with the character 砍 (kǎn), which means 'to cut.' Another mistake is mispronouncing it as first or second tone instead of the correct third tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坎
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How Well Do You Know 坎?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 坎 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.
坎 = 土 + 欠. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 坎
IDS Structure⿰土欠
坎Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
欠qian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 坎?
How to say pit, hole; to trap, to snare; crisis in Chinese
“pit, hole; to trap, to snare; crisis” in Chinese is坎kǎn
The character 坎 (kǎn) primarily refers to a pit or hole, often symbolizing a state of being trapped or ensnared. It can also denote a crisis or threshold, representing challenges one may face. In the context of the Eight Trigrams, it symbolizes water and the concept of depth and danger.
When to use 坎
Avoid confusing 坎 (kǎn) with similar characters like 坐 (zuò), which means 'to sit.' This word is often used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about philosophy or the I Ching (易经). Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation, as it can easily be mispronounced.
坎 or something close to it
坎 (kǎn) vs 陷 (xiàn) — use 坎 for a pit or hole, while 陷 refers to being trapped in a more figurative sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坎 (kǎn) with the character 砍 (kǎn), which means 'to cut.' Another mistake is mispronouncing it as first or second tone instead of the correct third tone.
Write 坎
坎
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Practice writing 坎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 坎
坎 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____贝尔公司的总裁退休后，麦戈文被选定为继任者。
When the chairman of Campbell's retired, McGovern was named as his successor.
