窠 (kē) · nest; den; burrow

Meanings

1 nest; den; burrow
2 a set framework; conventional pattern

Characters

窠

kē

nest; conventional pattern

Examples

HSK 7-9

不落窠臼，形容作品新颖，不落俗套。

Bù luò kē jiù, xíngróng zuòpǐn xīnyǐng, bù luò sútào.

"Not falling into the usual mould" means a work is original and unconventional.

HSK 7-9

小鸟在屋檐下筑了窠。

Xiǎoniǎo zài wūyán xià zhù le kē.

The little bird built its nest in the eaves.

Tips

usage

From "nest", 窠 extended to mean a fixed pattern. It is most often met in 不落窠臼, praising work that escapes the well-worn mould.

Components

radical

穴 xué

cave; hole

穴 is the cave/hole radical on top, fitting 窠 as a hollow nest or burrow.

phonetic

果 guǒ

fruit

果 supplies the sound (guǒ shifted to kē) and carries no meaning here. The same phonetic appears in 课, 颗, and 棵.

Stroke Order

窠 kē

Related Words

一窠麻 yìkēmá

a jumbled heap, a tangled mess / a pile of things in chaotic disorder

电视机 diànshìjī #5,626

television set; TV set

巢 cháo #9,428

nest; lair; den / hideout; base (of criminals)

创 chuàng HSK 7-9 #4,905

to create; to initiate; to found / to achieve (sth for the first time); to set (a record)

安装 ānzhuāng HSK 5 #5,113

to install; to set up / to mount; to fit

成立 chénglì HSK 5 #4,009

to establish; to found; to set up / to be tenable; to hold (of an argument)

安心 ānxīn HSK 7-9 #5,420

at ease; relieved / to feel reassured; to set one's mind at rest

点燃 diǎnrán HSK 6 #5,543

to ignite; to light; to set on fire / to kindle; to spark (figurative)

挡 dàng #2,579

to arrange; to put in order; to set up neatly

安 ān HSK 5 #1,566

calm; peaceful; safe / to install; to set up