Meaning
地洞 refers to a hole, tunnel, or cave in the ground. It can be naturally formed or dug by animals or people. The word combines 地 (ground/earth) and 洞 (hole/cave), literally meaning 'ground hole.' It's commonly used to describe animal burrows, secret tunnels, or underground passages.
Usage
地洞 is a neutral term used in both everyday and literary contexts. It frequently appears when describing where small animals live (like rabbits or foxes), in stories about secret passages, or in historical contexts about underground tunnels. Native speakers often use it when talking about children's adventures, wartime tunnels, or natural geological formations.
Examples
- 01兔子在草地上挖了一个地洞。.The rabbit dug a burrow in the grass.
- 02他们发现了一条通往城外的秘密地洞。.They discovered a secret tunnel leading out of the city.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个地洞
- 条一条地洞
Common collocations
- 挖地洞to dig a tunnel/burrow
- 钻进地洞to burrow into a hole
- 秘密地洞secret tunnel
- 老鼠地洞mouse hole/burrow
Origin
The word is a straightforward compound combining two concrete nouns: 地 (earth/ground) and 洞 (hole/cave), creating the meaning of a hole or tunnel in the ground.