窖 meaning and stroke order
Cellar, storeroom
How to write 窖, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 窖
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- cellar
- to store in a cellar
How 窖 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Cave.
穴 gives the meaning and 告 hints at the sound.
Radical: 穴 (cave), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 窖
窖 is a cave 穴 (xué) on top with 告 (gào) underneath giving the sound. Picture a hole dug into the ground where you store things, and 告 hints at the pronunciation jiào.
窖 usually appears in compounds for underground storage spaces, like 地窖 (dìjiào, cellar) and 酒窖 (jiǔjiào, wine cellar). It can also be a verb meaning to store something in a cellar. Example: 他们把白菜放在地窖里。(Tāmen bǎ báicài fàng zài dìjiào lǐ.) They keep the cabbages in the cellar.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 窖 with 窑 (yáo, kiln), which has the same 穴 top. 窑 is for firing pottery or bricks, while 窖 is for storage. Also, 告 is read gào, but 窖 is read jiào with a fourth tone.
Common words with 窖
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 地窖 | dìjiào | cellar; basement | |
| 酒窖 | jiǔjiào | wine cellar |
Questions about 窖
How many strokes are in 窖?
窖 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 窖 mean?
窖 (jiào) means cellar, storeroom. A common word with it is 地窖 (dìjiào), meaning "cellar; basement".
How do you pronounce 窖?
窖 is pronounced jiào, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 窖?
The radical of 窖 is 穴, which carries the idea of "cave". Dictionaries list 窖 under this radical.
Is 窖 used on its own or only in words?
It is mostly used in compounds such as 地窖 and 酒窖. As a verb it appears in phrases like 窖藏 (jiàocáng, to store in a cellar), which is often used for aged wine or liquor.
What is the difference between 地窖 and 地下室?
地窖 (dìjiào) is a cellar dug for storing food, wine, or other goods. 地下室 (dìxiàshì) is a basement room in a building that people can use for any purpose.