窟窿 kūlong hole
hole; pocket; cavity; loophole; debt
How to remember 窟窿: 窟 hole + 窿 mine shaft = hole.
Characters
How it is used
- A hole/cavity, colloquial - 墙上有个窟窿 (qiáng shàng yǒu ge kūlong) there's a hole in the wall; 补窟窿 to patch a hole.
- Figuratively a financial deficit/debt: 拉下一个大窟窿 (lāxià yí ge dà kūlong) to run up a big shortfall.
- Note the neutral tone on 窿 (kūlong); more casual than 洞 (dòng).