竅
hole, cave
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
Kun'yomi
- あな
Meaning
竅 centers on an opening or hollow space: a hole or a cave. Both meanings describe a void within something solid.
Most common words using 竅
- 九竅きゅうきょう
the nine holes in the body of humans and other mammals (mouth, eyes, ears, etc.); nine orifices
Study
Etymology
竅 combines 穴 (hole, cave) with 敫, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character expresses the idea of an opening or hollow space.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 穴 is a hole or cave. The bottom 敫 looks like a person peering into an opening. Together they form 竅, a hole or cave.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine a key opening a cave: key -> キョウ, and the key unlocks the hole.