(kǎn) — old variant of 坎; pit; hole

Definition

Bound literary form for 'pit' or 'hole' — written 坎, but in speech usually pronounced kēng. It appears mainly in set phrases like 坎坷 (bumpy / setbacks in life).

bound form
old variant of 坎pithole

Examples

  • Lù shang yǒu yí gè dà kēng kǎn
    There is a big pothole on the road.
  • Xiǎo xīn, qián miàn yǒu gè kēng kǎn!
    Be careful, there's a pothole ahead!
  • Zhè ge kēng kǎn hěn shēn, bú yào kào jìn.
    This pothole is very deep, don't get close.

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