qiào

躈

Character · NounTraditional竅

aperture; key point

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

hole; aperture; orifice

literary

Often used in compound words to refer to openings in the body or in objects. Literary or formal register.

qī七
qiào窍
liú流
xiě血

to bleed from the seven orifices (of the head: eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth)

xīn心
qiào窍

the openings of the heart (figuratively: intelligence, understanding)

2.

noun

key point; knack; secret

Used figuratively. Common in modern usage.

Wǒ我
zhǎng掌
wò握
le了
qiào窍
mén门
 ，
xué学
qǐ起
lái来
jiù就
róng容
yì易
le了
 。

Once I grasped the knack, it became easy to learn.

Zhè这
ge个
qiào窍
jué诀
hěn很
guǎn管
yòng用
 。

This trick is very effective.