屇
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: cave
💡 A field (田) under a roof (宀) = cave: like a farmer's underground home.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
In a remote village in Guizhou, an explorer shines a flashlight into a dark limestone 屇 (tián), or cave, that locals believe was once a shelter for ancient tribes. The character 屇 is rarely used in modern Chinese, but it appears in classical texts describing natural caverns or underground dwellings. Its structure combines 宀 (roof) and 田 (field), suggesting a field-like space under a roof—a cave. Though obscure, it evokes China’s karst landscapes and the cultural significance of caves as refuges.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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