cave

Origin & mnemonic

This radical originated as a pictograph depicting a hollow space or cavity, representing a cave or burrow. The early form in oracle-bone and seal scripts mimics the structure of a natural cave opening.

Mnemonic: Picture a deep vertical void with a ceiling above it—that's the visual essence of a cave.

• 穴xué🔊

  cave

  5 strokes

• 穵wā🔊

  to dig

  6 strokes

• 穷qióng🔊

  poor

  HSK 4

  7 strokes

• 究jiū🔊

  after all

  7 strokes

• 空kōng🔊

  empty

  HSK 3

  8 strokes

• 穸xī🔊

  tomb

  8 strokes

• 穹qióng🔊

  vault

  8 strokes

• 穿chuān🔊

  HSK 1

  9 strokes

• 突tū🔊

  to dash

  9 strokes

• 窀zhūn🔊

  to bury

  9 strokes

• 窂láo🔊

  variant of 牢[lao2]

  9 strokes

• 窃qiè🔊

  to steal

  9 strokes

• 窆biǎn🔊

  to put a coffin in the grave

  9 strokes

• 窄zhǎi🔊

  narrow

  HSK 7

  10 strokes

• 窅yǎo🔊

  sunken eyes

  10 strokes

• 窈yǎo🔊

  (literary) deep; profound; dim (variant of 杳[yao3])

  10 strokes

• 窊wā🔊

  lowland swamp

  10 strokes

• 窋zhú🔊

  in a hole

  10 strokes

• 窌jiào🔊

  cellar

  10 strokes

• 窍qiào🔊

  hole

  10 strokes

• 窎diào🔊

  (literary) distant

  10 strokes

• 窒zhì🔊

  to obstruct

  11 strokes

• 窑yáo🔊

  kiln

  HSK 7

  11 strokes

• 窔yǎo🔊

  dark

  11 strokes

• 窕tiǎo🔊

  quiet and secluded

  11 strokes

• 窝wō🔊

  nest

  HSK 7

  12 strokes

• 窗chuāng🔊

  old variant of 窗[chuang1]

  12 strokes

• 窜cuàn🔊

  to flee

  HSK 7

  12 strokes

• 窖jiào🔊

  cellar

  12 strokes

• 窘jiǒng🔊

  distressed

  12 strokes

• 窥kuī🔊

  to peep

  13 strokes

• 窟kū🔊

  cave

  13 strokes

• 窦dòu🔊

  (literary) hole; aperture

  13 strokes

• 窞dàn🔊

  pit

  13 strokes

• 窠kē🔊

  nest

  13 strokes

• 窣sū🔊

  used in 窸窣[xi1 su1]

  13 strokes

• 窨yìn🔊

  cellar

  14 strokes

• 洼wā🔊

  variant of 窪|洼[wa1]

  14 strokes

• 窬yú🔊

  hole in a wall

  14 strokes

• 窭jù🔊

  poor

  14 strokes

• 窳yǔ🔊

  bad

  15 strokes

• 窴tián🔊

  fill in

  15 strokes

• 窸xī🔊

  used in 窸窣[xi1 su1]

  16 strokes

• 窿lóng🔊

  cavity

  16 strokes

• 窾kuǎn🔊

  crack

  17 strokes

• 竁cuì🔊

  dig a hole

  17 strokes

• 竃zào🔊

  old variant of 灶[zao4]

  17 strokes

• 灶zào🔊

  kitchen stove

  21 strokes