洞穴 dòngxué cave
cave; cavern
How to remember 洞穴: 洞 cave + 穴 hole = cave.
Characters
How it is used
- The word for a cave/cavern as a natural hollow - 原始人住在洞穴里 (yuánshǐrén zhù zài dòngxué lǐ) cavemen lived in caves.
- Both characters mean 'cave', so it's a solid, slightly formal noun for geological/prehistoric contexts.
- Contrast plain 洞 (dòng), which is any hole (in a wall, a sock); 洞穴 specifically means a cave one could enter.
Example sentences
- 汤姆在洞穴里找到了一具骨架。 Tāngmǔ zài dòngxué lǐ zhǎodào le yījù gǔjià.Tom found a skeleton in the cave.
- 汤姆将会是第一个进入那洞穴的人。 Tāngmǔ jiānghuì shì dìyígè jìnrù nà dòngxué de rén.Tom will be the first person to enter the cave.