窍 (qiào) - Opening, aperture, orifice & key point, knack, secret

窍Tone 4

qiào ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical: 穴

器情

窍 · qiào

Opening, aperture, orifice;

key point, knack, secret;

refers to bodily orifices or the key to understanding something.

Opening, aperture, orificekey point, knack, secretrefers to bodily orifices or the key to

Usage highlights

Knack, trickKey, secretSeven orificesPerceptive, enlightenedBodily orificeHeart aperture

Synonyms

  • 孔— hole, aperture
  • 穴— cavity, hole, acupoint
  • 门— gate, door (as in 窍门)

Antonyms

  • 塞— to block, obstruct
  • 闭— to close, shut

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He finally grasped the knack (窍门).
  • The seven orifices of the head (七窍) refer to eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth.
  • This is the key point (诀窍) to solving the problem.
  • She is very perceptive (通窍).

Collocations

  • Knack, trick(窍门)
  • Key, secret(诀窍)
  • Seven orifices(七窍)
  • Perceptive, enlightened(通窍)
  • Bodily orifice(孔窍)
  • Heart aperture(心窍)

Idioms

  • Seven orifices bleeding(七窍流血)
  • Possessed by greed(鬼迷心窍)
  • Suddenly see the light(茅塞顿开，一窍不通的反义)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, 'qiao' refers to the body's orifices, considered important for health and vitality.
  • In Daoist and medical theory, the 'seven orifices' (eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth) are crucial sensory gateways.
  • Metaphorically extended to mean the 'key' or 'essential point' of understanding, as in grasping the 'knack' (窍门) of something.

FAQ