洞 dòng — cave, hole · English

洞

dòng

cave, hole

At a glance · 洞

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从水同声，形声字，本指水流急、深，引申为洞穴、透彻。隶楷作「洞」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「洞」本指疾流，后指空洞、深透。

Structure

形声字，水（氵）为意符，同为声符。

At a glance

Pinyindòng

Radical氵

Strokes9

UnicodeU+6D1E

Character type形声

Theme地理

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English cave, hole A cave, hole; penetrating, clear.

Français grotte, trou Une grotte, un trou; pénétrant.

Español cueva, agujero Una cueva, un agujero; penetrante.

العربية كهف، ثقب كهف أو ثقب或 مُدرك.

Русский пещера, отверстие Пещера, дыра; проницательный, ясный.

Common words

山洞shān dòngcave
洞庭dòng tíngDongting

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