龕 (kān) - Niche — a shrine, alcove, or niche for & also refers to a small enclosed space or

龕Tone 1

kān ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

龕 · kān

Niche — a shrine, alcove, or niche for enshrining idols, Buddha statues, or ancestral tablets;

also refers to a small enclosed space or compartment.

Niche — a shrine, alcove, or niche foralso refers to a small enclosed space or

Usage highlights

Buddhist nicheshrine nichewall nichedragon nichestone nicheniche for statues

Synonyms

  • 神龛— shrine (specifically for deities)
  • 佛龛— Buddhist niche
  • 壁龛— alcove or recess in a wall

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Buddhist niche (佛龛) was carved into the cave wall.
  • He placed the ancestral tablet in the family shrine (神龛).
  • The wall had a small recessed niche (壁龛) for displaying art.
  • The dragon's niche (龙龛) is a sacred place in some temples.

Collocations

  • Buddhist niche(佛龛)
  • shrine niche(神龛)
  • wall niche(壁龛)
  • dragon niche(龙龛)
  • stone niche(石龛)
  • niche for statues(像龛)

Idioms

  • To build a niche and worship(筑龛供奉)
  • Niche and altar(龛坛)
  • Stone niche scripture(石龛经)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a dragon's form or appearance; later extended to mean a niche or shrine, especially in Buddhist contexts.
  • Commonly used in Buddhist architecture for housing statues of Buddha or bodhisattvas.
  • Also appears in ancestral worship contexts as a shrine for tablets.

FAQ