Meaning
挖 means to dig or excavate, referring to the action of removing earth, sand, or other material by using tools or hands. It can also mean to scoop out or hollow out something. The character combines the hand radical (扌) with a phonetic component, indicating a manual action.
Usage
挖 is commonly used in everyday contexts for digging holes, excavating sites, or scooping food. It appears frequently with objects like 土 (earth), 洞 (hole), or 井 (well). It can also be used figuratively, such as 挖人才 (to poach talent) or 挖掘潜力 (to uncover potential).
Examples
- 01工人们正在挖一条新的水渠。.The workers are digging a new canal.
- 02小狗在院子里挖了一个大洞。.The puppy dug a big hole in the yard.
Common collocations
- 挖洞to dig a hole
- 挖土to dig earth
- 挖掘机excavator
- 挖墙脚to undermine, to poach (talent/resources)
Antonyms
Origin
The character 挖 consists of the hand radical 扌(手) on the left, indicating manual action, and the phonetic component 圭 on the right. This structure reflects the physical action of using one's hands or tools to dig.