洞窟 (dòng kū) — cave, cavern | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

cavecavern

Measure word · 个

洞窟。
Tā men tàn suǒ le yí gè gǔ lǎo de dòng kū.
They explored an ancient cave.
洞窟。
Zhè ge dòng kū lǐ yǒu hěn duō bì huà.
This cave has many murals.
洞窟。
Kǎo gǔ xué jiā zài zhè ge dòng kū zhōng fā xiàn le xīn wén wù.
Archaeologists discovered new artifacts in this cave.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

洞 and 窟 both refer to hollow places; together they mean a cave or cavern.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

同

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洞 combines 水 (water) with 同, which gives the sound tóng.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

穴屈窟

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuéhole; cave

Sound part声符shēngfú

屈

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

窟 is built from 穴 (hole; cave) plus 屈, which supplies the sound. The shape therefore marks a cave-like hole pronounced like 屈.