穴
hole, aperture, slit, cave, den
Readings
On'yomi
- ケツ
Kun'yomi
- あな
Nanori
- けな
- しし
- な
Meaning
穴 centers on an opening or hollow space: a hole, slit, or aperture, and by extension a cave or den as a natural hollow.
Most common words using 穴
20 of 146- 穴あなN3
hole; opening; orifice; perforation
- 穴けつ
ass; arse; buttocks
- 毛穴けあな
pore (of the skin)
- 落とし穴おとしあな
pitfall; trap; pit
- 穴場あなばN1
good place not many people know about; great little-known spot; good out-of-the-way place; well-kept secret; hidden gem of a place
- 穴埋めあなうめ
filling (up) a hole
- 墓穴ぼけつ
grave (pit)
- 大穴おおあな
large hole
- 穴子あなご
conger eel (esp. the common Japanese conger, Conger myriaster); garden eel
- 洞穴ほらあな
cave; cavern; den; grotto
- 風穴かざあな
air hole; windhole; air vent
- 抜け穴ぬけあな
secret passage; underground passage
- 穴居けっきょ
cave dwelling; troglodytism
- 節穴ふしあな
knothole; peep-hole
- 竪穴たてあな
pit; shaft
- 穴熊あなぐま
badger
- 穴あけあなあけ
drilling; hole punching
- 鍵穴かぎあな
keyhole
- 穴マンコけつマンコ
anus; asshole; arsehole
- 横穴よこあな
cave; tunnel
Study
Etymology
穴 is a pictograph of a cave or hollow opening. The modern form retains the roof-like 宀 and the opening 八, suggesting a covered hole.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 宀 looks like a roof, and the bottom 八 looks like an opening. Together they form a roof over a hole: a cave or den.
Reading mnemonic
For ケツ, imagine a kettle (ケツ) sitting in a cave: the kettle's sound cues ケツ while the cave is a hollow space.