掘 means “dig”

ほる · horu

Also: delve, excavate

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ほる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

クツ

Taught in secondary school · 11 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) working to unearth (屈) what lies below: digging reveals hidden treasures. Japan's archaeological digs have unearthed Jōmon pottery over 16,000 years old, the world's oldest. Every construction site in Japan risks uncovering history, sometimes delaying projects for years of careful excavation.

Used in 発掘 (hakkutsu, excavation), 掘り出す (horidasu, to dig up/discover), and 掘削 (kussaku, drilling)

More from Earth & Minerals

• 鋼 steel
• 層 layer
• 鉱 ore
• 晶 crystal
• 磁 magnet
• 鍛 forge
• 地 earth
• 岩 rock
• 玉 jewel
• 鉄 iron
• 穴 hole
• 原 plain

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.