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坑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
坑
kēng
hole
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #5222, Very Hard
坑
kēng
pit
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #5222, Very Hard
坑
kēng
tunnel
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #5222, Very Hard
坑
kēng
to defraud
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #5222, Very Hard
坑
kēng
pit, hole; to trap, to bury; to harry
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #5222, Very Hard
kēng(keng1)keng T1
1hole
2pit
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March 24, 2026
坑kēng(keng1)
The character 坑 (kēng) refers to a hole or pit dug in the ground, often for the purpose of mining or construction. It can also describe a situation where someone is trapped or defrauded, emphasizing the concept of being caught in a difficult circumstance. This word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#5222DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese history, the term 坑 is often associated with ancient mining practices and the traps set in battles or conflicts, reflecting a long-standing awareness of both physical and metaphorical 'pits' in life.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant 'k' (for kēng) shaped hole in the ground where someone fell in. The '坑' looks like a pit, and the top part resembles a person being trapped. Visualize the sound 'kēng' echoing in the pit as they call for help.
Meanings of 坑
kēng(keng1)
1hole
2pit
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 坑 means.
About 坑
坑Simplified
7Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5222Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 坑
Podcast: 坑
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AI study notes for 坑
Quick Contrast
坑 (kēng) vs 洞 (dòng) — use 坑 for a pit or hole specifically dug for a purpose, while 洞 refers to a more general hole or cavity.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the pronunciation; the tone is crucial because a wrong tone can change the meaning. In informal contexts, it might be used to describe being tricked or deceived, while in formal settings it might pertain more to construction or mining. Common collocations include 坑道 (kēngdào - tunnel) and 坑人 (kēngrén - to deceive someone).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, students should focus on its usage in both literal and figurative language. It connects with other Level 6 vocabulary related to deception and physical structures. Practice using it in sentences that illustrate both meanings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坑 (kēng) with similar-sounding characters like 跟 (gēn), leading to incorrect usage in phrases. For example, using 跟人 (gēnrén - to follow someone) instead of 坑人 (kēngrén - to deceive someone) changes the meaning entirely.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坑
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 坑 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.
坑 = 土 + 亢. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 坑
IDS Structure⿰土亢
坑Full character
=
土Tu3
left
亢Kang4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 坑?
How to say hole in Chinese
“hole” in Chinese is坑kēng
The character 坑 (kēng) refers to a hole or pit dug in the ground, often for the purpose of mining or construction. It can also describe a situation where someone is trapped or defrauded, emphasizing the concept of being caught in a difficult circumstance. This word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
When to use 坑
Be careful with the pronunciation; the tone is crucial because a wrong tone can change the meaning. In informal contexts, it might be used to describe being tricked or deceived, while in formal settings it might pertain more to construction or mining. Common collocations include 坑道 (kēngdào - tunnel) and 坑人 (kēngrén - to deceive someone).
坑 or something close to it
坑 (kēng) vs 洞 (dòng) — use 坑 for a pit or hole specifically dug for a purpose, while 洞 refers to a more general hole or cavity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坑 (kēng) with similar-sounding characters like 跟 (gēn), leading to incorrect usage in phrases. For example, using 跟人 (gēnrén - to follow someone) instead of 坑人 (kēngrén - to deceive someone) changes the meaning entirely.
Write 坑
坑
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Practice writing 坑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 坑
坑 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他拿起一把铁锨，挖了个____，将自己曾经珍爱的物品埋了起来。
He took a shovel, dug a hole, and buried his once-prized possessions.
Example sentences for 坑 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他拿起一把铁锨，挖了个坑，将自己曾经珍爱的物品埋了起来。
tā ná qǐ yī bǎ tiě xiān， wā le gè kēng， jiāng zìjǐ céngjīng zhēn ài de wùpǐn mái le qǐlái。
He took a shovel, dug a hole, and buried his once-prized possessions.
2
在仅剩的几个水坑里，河马根本无法没入水中。
zài jǐn shèng de jǐ gè shuǐ kēng lǐ， hé mǎ gēnběn wúfǎ méi rù shuǐ zhōng。
Hippos are unable to submerge in the few remaining water holes.
3
墙上仍然有她的子弹留下的凹坑。
qiáng shàng réngrán yǒu tā de zǐdàn liúxia de āo kēng。
The pockmarks made by her bullets are still on the wall.
4
东挖西掘后留下了一片废弃的矿坑。
dōng wā xī jué hòu liúxia le yī piàn fèiqì de kuàng kēng。
All that digging had left a network of abandoned mines and tunnels.
Eric lost his footing and began to slide into the pit.
9
那些孩子挖了个坑准备栽树.
nàxiē háizi wā le gè kēng zhǔnbèi zāi shù.
The boys scraped out a hollow place for planting trees.
10
许多坑洼处甚至给机动车都带来了危险，更别提骑自行车的人了。
xǔduō kēng wā chǔ shènzhì gěi jīdòngchē dōu dàilái le wēixiǎn， gèng bié tí qí zìxíngchē de rén le。
Many of the potholes are a danger even to motor vehicles, never mind cyclists.
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Word Family of 坑
Words containing this character20
坑kēnghole
水坑shuǐkēngpuddle
火坑huǒkēngpit of fire
沙坑shākēngsandbox
矿坑kuàngkēngmine礦坑
坑道kēngdàomine shaft
茅坑máokēnglatrine pit
弹坑dànkēngbomb crater彈坑
基坑jīkēngfoundation groove
陨石坑yǔnshíkēngmeteorite impact crater隕石坑
坑坑洼洼kēngkengwāwābumpy坑坑窪窪
泥坑níkēngmud pit
坑人kēngrénto cheat sb
坑洼kēngwāpothole坑窪
坑害kēnghàito trap
坑洞kēngdònghole
坑口kēngkǒuHang Hau (area in Hong Kong)
坑蒙拐骗kēngmēngguǎipiànto swindle坑蒙拐騙
凹坑āokēngcrater
坑木kēngmùpit prop
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 坑
What does 水坑 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 坑
Expressions like 坑人 (kēngrén - to deceive someone) and 坑道 (kēngdào - pit or tunnel) are common. They highlight both the literal and figurative uses of the word.
You might say '他把我搞得很坑' (tā bǎ wǒ gǎo de hěn kēng), meaning 'He really trapped me' or 'He deceived me'. This shows its metaphorical use.
While it often has negative connotations, it can also be used in neutral contexts related to construction or geography, like discussing a mining pit.
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