坑洞 (kēng dòng) — pit, hole (in the ground)

Definition

noun

pithole (in the ground)

Measure word · 个

坑洞，。
Lù miàn chū xiàn le yí gè dà kēng dòng, fēi cháng wēi xiǎn.
A big hole appeared in the road; it was very dangerous.
坑洞。
Kǎo gǔ xué jiā zài wā jué xiàn chǎng fā xiàn le gǔ dài kēng dòng.
The archaeologists discovered ancient pits at the excavation site.
，坑洞。
Xià yǔ de shí hou, yào xiǎo xīn bì kāi lù shang de kēng dòng.
When it rains, be careful to avoid holes in the road.

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.

坑 and 洞 both refer to depressions or openings in the ground, and together they mean a pit or hole.

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.

亢土坑

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔsoil

Sound part声符shēngfú

亢

亢kàng坑kēng(r)

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The current form 坑 uses 土 (soil) for the meaning and 亢 for the sound.

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.