凵
The 凵 radical
Pit, receptacle
Memory hook
A pit open at the top. It is the enclosure 囗 without its lid: 出 (to step out of the pit), 凹 (concave), 凸 (convex) — the pair 凹凸 shows its own meaning.
The 凵 radical (read kǎn) means pit, receptacle. The HSK 3.0 data contains 7 characters and 118 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 凵 radical
Study this radical's 118 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 凵 radical
7 charactersHSK 1· 1 characters
HSK 1出
to go out, to exit
HSK 5· 1 characters
HSK 5击
hit, strike
HSK 6· 1 characters
HSK 6凶
fierce; ferocious; brutal
HSK 7-9· 4 characters
HSK 7-9凸
convex, protruding, uneven
凹
concave; sunken; indented
函
letter, envelope
凿
to chisel, to bore (to make a hole or shape)
Vocabulary with the 凵 radical
118 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 凵 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (51/118 words of this radical).
to go out, to exit
to go out
to come out
to set off; to depart
exit
to go abroad
to appear; to emerge
to be born; birth
to rent out; to lease
taxi
to go out
to be discharged from hospital
to emit; to send out; to give off
to point out; to note
to broadcast; to air (a TV or radio program)
performance; show; to perform
outstanding; prominent
to recognize (someone or something familiar)
to withdraw; to drop out
to pay, to put in (effort)
to make, to carry out
to sell
to attend, to be present
outstanding, excellent
to originate from, due to
to go on a business trip
to perspire; to sweat
to publish
to shoot, to fire
to beat, to attack
expenditure, expense
to perceive, to notice
export
to spread out, to emit, to come out
impact, to impact
fierce; ferocious; brutal
murderer; killer
to have an accident, to run into trouble
to go in and out; entrance and exit
to set out, to set off
to promulgate, to officially announce
to become famous, to gain fame
official letter, official document (from an agency or organization)
fierce, vicious
ferocious, brutal
fierce, ruthless
fierce, ferocious
convex, protruding, uneven
to highlight, to make prominent
concave; sunken; indented
to lose face, to make a fool of oneself in public
Why learn vocabulary by the 凵 radical?
The 凵 radical hints at the meaning pit, receptacle. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 7 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 118 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.