窩
cave, pouch
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
- ワ
Kun'yomi
- むろ
Meaning
窩 centers on a hollow space or enclosure: a cave, a pouch, or any small cavity that holds or shelters something.
Most common words using 窩
20 of 22- 眼窩がんか
orbit; eye socket
- 山窩さんか
group of mountain nomads (in Japan); group of mountain people; the Sanka
- 腋窩えきか
armpit; axilla
- ダグラス窩ダグラスか
pouch of Douglas; rectouterine pouch
- 中心窩ちゅうしんか
fovea centralis
- 口底蜂窩織炎こうていほうかしきえん
phlegmon in floor of oral cavity; Ludwig's angina
- 燕窩えんか
swift's nest (used to make bird's nest soup)
- 直腸子宮窩ちょくちょうしきゅうか
rectouterine pouch; pouch of Douglas
- 眼窩底がんかてい
orbital floor (thin bone floor of eye socket)
- 私窩子しかし
prostitute; harlot
- 窩洞かどう
dental cavity (due to caries)
- 窩縁かえん
cavity margin (e.g. tooth, body)
- 胃小窩いしょうか
gastric pits
- 腋窩動脈えきかどうみゃく
axillary artery; arteria axillaris
- 腋窩腺えきかせん
axillary gland
- 腺窩炎せんかえん
cryptitis
- 膝窩しっか
popliteal fossa; popliteal space; area behind the knee
- 膝窩動脈しつかどうみゃく
popliteal artery
- 膝窩静脈しつかじょうみゃく
popliteal vein
- 蜂窩ほうか
beehive; hive; honeycomb
Study
Etymology
窩 combines 穴 (hole, cavity) with 咼, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to a hollow or curved shape. The exact historical development of 咼 is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 穴 is a hole or cave, and the bottom 咼 looks like a pouch with something inside. Picture a cave that doubles as a pouch, holding hidden treasures.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a car parked inside a cave: car -> カ, and the cave shelters it like a pouch.