Definition
洞 (dòng) is a general noun for a hole, cavity, or cave — it covers everything from a small hole in a wall to a natural cave. It contrasts with 洞穴 (cave, more formal/natural), 孔 (small precise opening), 口子 (cut/tear on a surface), and 漏洞 (leak or loophole). In spoken numbers, 洞 is used for digit 0 to avoid ambiguity, unlike the standard numeral 零.
noun
caveholethe digit 0used when spelling out numbers to avoid ambiguity
Measure word · 个
Easily confused
- 铜tónglook-alikecopper
- 动dòngsound-aliketo move; to change position
- 懂dǒngsound-aliketo understand, to comprehend
- 东dōngsound-alikeeast
- 栋dòngsound-alike(classifier) for houses, buildings, and other standalone structures
- 冻dòngsound-aliketo freeze (of water, food, etc.)
Examples
- 洞。Zhège dòng de lǐmiàn hěn hēi.The inside of this cave is very dark.
- 。Qiáng shàng yǒu yí gè dà dòng.There is a big hole in the wall.
- 洞。Tā de shǒujī hào zuìhòu yí wèi shì dòng.The last digit of his phone number is zero.
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