noun HSK 4
cave · cavern · grotto
Meaning
山洞 refers to a natural cave or cavern, typically found in mountains or hillsides. It is formed by natural geological processes and can range from small hollows to large underground chambers.
Usage
This is a common, everyday word for caves used in both spoken and written Mandarin. It typically refers to natural caves rather than man-made tunnels. Native speakers use it when discussing geography, adventure stories, or historical sites where people or animals might shelter.
Examples
- 01我们在山洞里躲雨。.We took shelter from the rain in the cave.
- 02这个山洞很深，里面很黑。, .This cave is very deep and it's very dark inside.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个山洞
- 座一座山洞
Common collocations
- 躲进山洞to hide in a cave
- 山洞里inside the cave
- 发现山洞to discover a cave
- 深山洞deep cave
Origin
The word combines 山 (mountain) and 洞 (hole/cave), literally meaning 'mountain hole' or 'mountain cave', directly describing caves found in mountainous terrain.