坑 kēng pit
pit; hole
How to remember 坑: 土 earth + 亢 high = pit. The kids pile the earth high on the beach, dig deeper and deeper, and Dad ends up sitting in the pit.
Component breakdown
坑 = 土 earth + 亢 high
- 土 earth
- 亢 high
The kids pile the earth high on the beach, dig deeper and deeper, and Dad ends up sitting in the pit.
How it is used
- A pit/hole: 挖个坑 (wā ge kēng) dig a pit, 泥坑 (níkēng) a mud pit.
- Colloquial verb 'to screw over': 坑人 (kēngrén) to rip someone off, 坑爹 (kēngdiē, slang) what a rip-off / what garbage.
- 一个萝卜一个坑 (yí ge luóbo yí ge kēng) = one radish per hole, i.e. everyone has their fixed slot.