Chinese Character: 掘
1. Character Basics
Radical: 扌/shǒu (hand radical)
Stroke Count: 11
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jué (second tone)
3. Meaning
dig, excavate, scoop, unearth, delve, burrow
4. Common Words
- 挖掘 (wājué) - excavate, dig
- 掘土 (juétǔ) - dig soil
- 掘墓 (juémù) - dig a grave, exhume
- 开掘 (kāijué) - dig, excavate, develop
- 掘进 (juèjìn) - tunnel forward, dig in
- 掘地三尺 (juédì sān chǐ) - dig three feet into the ground, search thoroughly
5. Grammar & Usage
As a verb (dig, excavate):
- 后面接名词：掘土 (dig soil), 掘井 (dig a well)
- 可带补语：挖掘出来 (dig out), 掘进隧道 (tunnel through)
- 后接介词结构：掘于地下 (dig underground), 掘在山上 (dig on the mountain)
- 与其他词构成复合词：挖掘 (excavate), 采掘 (extract), 掘进 (tunnel forward)
6. Cultural Background
在中国文化中，"掘"字有着丰富的历史和文化内涵：
- 农业文化：古代农业社会中，挖掘土地进行耕种是生存的基础
- 考古发掘：现代考古学中，挖掘是重要的研究手段，如殷墟的发掘
- 成语文化：有许多与"掘"相关的成语，如"掘地三尺"、"断木掘地"
- 民间故事：有"愚公移山"等与挖掘相关的寓言故事，体现了坚韧不拔的精神
- 工程建设：现代社会中，挖掘技术广泛应用于建筑、交通等领域
- 中医理论：中医中有"掘穴"的概念，指针灸中的穴位定位
7. Example Sentence
中文：工人们正在挖掘地基，准备建造新的办公楼。
Pinyin：Gōngrénmen zhèngzài wājué dìjī, zhǔnbèi jiànzào xīn de bàngōnglóu.
Translation：Workers are digging the foundation to build a new office building.
8. Memory Tips
Character Structure Breakdown: 掘 is composed of 扌 (hand radical) and 屈 (qū, bend). This structure suggests using hands to bend or break ground, representing the action of digging.
Mnemonic Device: Imagine using your hands (扌) to bend (屈) and break the ground, representing the act of digging.
Visual Association: Connect the character to the action of digging, as the combination of 扌 and 屈 conveys the idea of manual labor to move earth.
Stroke Order Practice: Focus on the correct stroke order, starting with the three strokes of 扌 on the left, then the strokes of 屈 on the right.
Related Words: Associate the character with common words like 挖掘 (excavate) and 掘土 (dig soil) to reinforce your memory.