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穵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
穵wāa deep hollow; to dig out, to gougex, 6 strokes, radical 穴
穵wāto digunknown, 6 strokes, radical 穴
穵wāto scoop outunknown, 6 strokes, radical 穴
wā(wa1) T1
  1. 1a deep hollow; to dig out, to gouge
  2. 2to dig
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March 24, 2026

穵wā(wa1)

The character 穵 (wā) refers to a deep hollow or cavity, often implying a space that has been created by digging or gouging. It can also mean the action of scooping out or excavating, commonly used in contexts related to construction, agriculture, or natural features such as caves.

Strokes6Radical穴
Cultural Note

In Chinese agriculture, the process of digging and creating hollows is essential for irrigation and planting, highlighting the significance of this action in traditional farming practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant, deep hole in the ground where you can see the walls 'wa'ving as they were dug out. The 'wā' sound can remind you of the action of 'wa'shing away dirt to reveal the hollow underneath.

Meanings of 穵

wā(wa1)
1a deep hollow; to dig out, to gouge
2to dig
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 穵

穵Simplified
6Strokes
穴Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 穵

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Podcast: 穵

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AI Study Notes for 穵

Usage Notes

This character is relatively rare and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. It's important to use it in contexts that specifically involve digging or hollow spaces to avoid confusion. Learners should also be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing 'wā' with the wrong tone can change its meaning dramatically.

HSK Study Tips

Although 穵 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other verbs related to digging (like 挖 wā) and can enhance understanding of related terms. Students should focus on context and usage to grasp its application better.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 穵 with similar characters. For instance, using it interchangeably with 洞 (dòng) can lead to misunderstandings, as 洞 refers to a hole without the digging connotation inherent to 穵.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 穵

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Etymology of 穵

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

cave

Semantic (meaning)穴
+
Phonetic (sound)乙
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 穵

  1. 1The meaning half穴 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half乙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycave
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 穵? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 穵?

Decomposition of 穵

IDS Structure⿱穴乙
穵Full Character
=
穴xue2
top
乙yi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 穵?

How to say a deep hollow; to dig out, to gouge in Chinese

“a deep hollow; to dig out, to gouge” in Chinese is穵wā

The character 穵 (wā) refers to a deep hollow or cavity, often implying a space that has been created by digging or gouging. It can also mean the action of scooping out or excavating, commonly used in contexts related to construction, agriculture, or natural features such as caves.

When to use 穵

This character is relatively rare and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. It's important to use it in contexts that specifically involve digging or hollow spaces to avoid confusion. Learners should also be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing 'wā' with the wrong tone can change its meaning dramatically.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 穵 with similar characters. For instance, using it interchangeably with 洞 (dòng) can lead to misunderstandings, as 洞 refers to a hole without the digging connotation inherent to 穵.

Write 穵

穵

Practice writing 穵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 穵

You could say '他在山上挖了一个深的穵' (He dug a deep hollow on the mountain).

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