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Kotomora

穴

hole, aperture, slit, cave, den

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes5

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

Explore all words using 穴 →

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.