When the formation data identifies 穴 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
穴
Radical 116 of 214 · 5 strokes
Cave
xué
Unicode uses 穴 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is cave, den, hole; Kangxi radical 116. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
17 course characters45 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
17 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 17 characters.
穿chuānto drill, to pierce; to dress, to wearDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Based on the meaning "to pierce through". Meaning later extended to "to thread", "to string together", and "to wear".
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 牙Semantic componenttooth
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 牙
HSK words with 穿2 words in this course
空kōnghollow, empty, deserted, bareDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 工Phonetic componentwork; craft
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 工
HSK words with 空15 words in this course
突tūsudden, abrupt, unexpectedDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Depicts a dog (犬) running out of a cave (穴).
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 犬Semantic componentdog
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 犬
HSK words with 突4 words in this course
究jiūto dig into, to investigate; actually, after allDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 九 represents the sound.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 九Phonetic componentnine
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 九
HSK words with 究5 words in this course
穷qióngpoor, destitute; to exhaustDetails+
simplified form
Formation: Simplified form of 窮. Phonosemantic compound. 身 represents the meaning and 穹 represents the sound.
- 力Simplified formstrength; power
- 穴Simplified formcave; hole
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 力
- Also indexed under
- 力 power
HSK words with 穷3 words in this course
窗chuāngwindowDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 囱 represents the sound. Simplified form of 牎.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 囱Phonetic componentwindow; chimney
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 囱
HSK words with 窗2 words in this course
窮qióngpoor, destitute; to exhaustDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 身 represents the meaning and 穹 represents the sound.
- 身Semantic componentbody
- 穹Phonetic componentvault; dome
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 躬
HSK words with 窮3 words in this course
窄zhǎinarrow, tight; narrow-mindedDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 乍 represents the sound.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 乍Phonetic componentmow; abruptly
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 乍
HSK words with 窄2 words in this course
穴xuécave, den, holeDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of an opening to a cave.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 宀 + 八
HSK words with 穴1 word in this course
窃qièto steal; thief; secret, stealthyDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 切 represents the sound. Simplified form of 竊.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 切Phonetic componentto cut
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 切
HSK words with 窃1 word in this course
窍qiàohole, opening, apertureDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 巧 represents the sound. Simplified form of 竅.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 巧Phonetic componentskillful, ingenious, clever
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 巧
HSK words with 窍1 word in this course
窜cuànto run away; to expel; to revise, to editDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 串 represents the sound. Simplified form of 竄.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 串Phonetic componentstring together; skewer
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 串
HSK words with 窜1 word in this course
窝wōcave, den, nest; hiding place; measure word for small animalsDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: 穴 contributes the broad semantic category “cave”; 呙 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 呙
HSK words with 窝1 word in this course
窩wōcave, den, nest; hiding place; measure word for small animalsDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 咼 represents the sound.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 咼Phonetic componentjaw
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 咼
HSK words with 窩1 word in this course
竄cuànto run away; to expel; to revise, to editDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Depicts a mouse (鼠) scurrying out of a hole (穴).
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 鼠Semantic componentrat; mouse
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 鼠
HSK words with 竄1 word in this course
竅qiàohole, opening, apertureDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 敫 represents the sound.
- 穴Semantic componentcave; hole
- 敫Phonetic componentancient musical instrument
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 敫
HSK words with 竅1 word in this course
竊qièto steal; thief; secret, stealthyDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: Termites 禼 taking grain 米 to their nest 穴
- Category radical
- 穴 cave
- Visual structure
- 穴 + 米 + 禼
HSK words with 竊1 word in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.