弹坑 (dàn kēng) — shell hole, bomb crater

Definition

noun

shell holebomb crater

Measure word · 个

弹坑。
Dì miàn shàng yǒu hěn duō dàn kēng.
There are many shell holes on the ground.
弹坑。
Shì bīng duǒ zài dàn kēng lǐ.
The soldiers hid in a bomb crater.
弹坑。
Zhè tiáo lù bèi dàn kēng huǐ huài le.
This road was destroyed by bomb craters.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

弹tánprojectile

弹 is projectile and 坑 is hole, so the name is a hole made by a projectile.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

弓單彈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

單

單dān彈tán

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

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

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.