窟 (kū) - cave & grotto

窟Tone 1

kū ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

窟 · kū

cave;

grotto;

den;

hole;

burrow;

a place where people gather for specific activities (often negative connotation).

cavegrottoden

Usage highlights

cave dwellingthieves' dengambling denrock cavepoor people's cavefox den

Synonyms

  • 洞— cave, hole (more neutral)
  • 穴— cave, den, acupoint

Antonyms

  • 宫— palace (opposite of humble cave)
  • 殿— hall, temple (formal vs. informal dwelling)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The explorers discovered a limestone cave (石窟).
  • The thieves operated from their den (贼窟).
  • The poor lived in slums (贫民窟).
  • He escaped to his study (书窟) to read.
  • The rabbit hid in its burrow (兔窟).

Collocations

  • cave dwelling(窟宅)
  • thieves' den(盗窟)
  • gambling den(赌窟)
  • rock cave(石窟)
  • poor people's cave(贫窟)
  • fox den(狐狸窟)

Idioms

  • A cunning rabbit has three burrows(狡兔三窟)
  • A nest of thieves and bandits(匪盗之窟)
  • A place of poverty and misery(贫苦之窟)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in Buddhist context for cave temples (e.g., Mogao Caves 莫高窟).
  • Can carry negative connotations when referring to dens of vice or poverty.
  • Appears in classical literature describing both natural formations and human habitats.

FAQ