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考古 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
考古kǎogǔarchaeologyHSK 6, vn, rank #14041, Hard
kǎogǔ(kao3gu3) T3
  1. 1archaeology
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March 24, 2026
考古kǎogǔ(kao3gu3)

考古 refers to the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts. It encompasses understanding past human cultures and societies based on material remains. This term is commonly used in academic and professional contexts related to history and cultural studies.

Frequency#14041DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

Archaeology holds a significant place in Chinese culture, particularly due to the rich history of ancient dynasties and the artifacts that reveal their lifestyles. The discovery of sites like the Terracotta Army has greatly influenced how Chinese history is understood and appreciated.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise old archaeologist (考) digging through ancient relics (古) to uncover the secrets of the past. The character 考 resembles a person deep in thought, while 古 indicates something ancient, helping you remember the pronunciation 'kao3 gu3' as you picture the discovery of old treasures.

Meanings of 考古

kǎogǔ(kao3gu3)
1archaeology
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 考古

考古Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#14041Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 考古

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Podcast: 考古

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AI Study Notes for 考古

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wise old archaeologist (考) digging through ancient relics (古) to uncover the secrets of the past. The character 考 resembles a person deep in thought, while 古 indicates something ancient, helping you remember the pronunciation 'kao3 gu3' as you picture the discovery of old treasures.

Usage Notes

When using 考古, ensure you are in an academic or formal context, as it pertains to a specialized field. A common mistake is to confuse it with other fields like history (历史), which is broader. Remember to use the correct tones: 'kao3' and 'gu3' to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 考古 builds upon your understanding of specialized vocabulary. Focus on related terms such as 文物 (wénwù - cultural relics) and 考古学 (kǎogǔxué - archaeology as a discipline) to enhance your comprehension in discussions about history and culture.

Cultural Note

Archaeology holds a significant place in Chinese culture, particularly due to the rich history of ancient dynasties and the artifacts that reveal their lifestyles. The discovery of sites like the Terracotta Army has greatly influenced how Chinese history is understood and appreciated.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly pronounce 考古 as 'kǎo gǔ' instead of the correct 'kǎo gu3'. Additionally, some might confuse it with related terms like 考试 (kǎoshì - exam), leading to misunderstandings about its meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 考古

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Component Characters

kǎoto beat
HSK 26 strokes
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ancient
HSK 55 strokes
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Write 考古

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

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Grammar Patterns of 考古

考古 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

____学家在发掘之初就知道他们将有重大发现。

Archaeologists knew they were onto something big when they started digging.

Example Sentences for 考古 (3)

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1
考古学家在发掘之初就知道他们将有重大发现。

kǎo gǔ xué jiā zài fā jué zhī chū jiù zhī dào tā mén jiāng yǒu zhòng dà fā xiàn。

Archaeologists knew they were onto something big when they started digging.
2
考古学家判定这个堡垒建于罗马皇帝安东尼·庇护统治时期。

kǎo gǔ xué jiā pàn dìng zhè gè bǎo lěi jiàn yú luó mǎ huáng dì ān dōng ní· · bì hù tǒng zhì shí。

Archaeologists have dated the fort to the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
3
她在大学里教考古学.

tā zài dà xué lǐ jiào kǎo gǔ xué.

She teaches archaeology at the university.

Cultural Notes for 考古

🏮Cultural insight

Archaeology holds a significant place in Chinese culture, particularly due to the rich history of ancient dynasties and the artifacts that reveal their lifestyles. The discovery of sites like the Terracotta Army has greatly influenced how Chinese history is understood and appreciated.

Frequently Asked Questions about 考古

考古 focuses specifically on the physical artifacts and remains of past cultures, while 历史 encompasses the broader narrative of human events and experiences.