窟 kū hole
hole; cave
How to remember 窟: 穴 hole + 屈 to bend = hole. The explorers squeeze through a hole in the cliff, have to bend low under the rock and reach a huge hole full of bats.
Component breakdown
窟 = 穴 hole + 屈 to bend
- 穴 hole
- 屈 to bend
The explorers squeeze through a hole in the cliff, have to bend low under the rock and reach a huge hole full of bats.
How it is used
- A cave/hole/lair - 石窟 (shíkū) a rock-cut cave temple (敦煌石窟 the Dunhuang Grottoes), 洞窟 (dòngkū) a cavern, 贫民窟 (pínmínkū) a slum.
- 窟窿 (kūlong) means a hole/gap, and figuratively a financial hole/deficit: 拉下窟窿 (lāxià kūlong) to run up debts.