How to Write 窆 (biǎn) — Meaning “To lower a coffin into a grave.”

Imagine a coffin being lowered into a cave (穴) until it is "gone" or "exhausted" (乏). The character visually shows the coffin disappearing into the hole, reinforcing the idea of burial.

The top part 穴 must be wide enough to cover the lower component 乏, and the last stroke of 穴 (the hook under the 宀) should not be too long. The bottom part 乏 has a tricky stroke order: first the left-downward stroke, then the horizontal stroke, then the two inner dots, and finally the right-upward sweeping stroke — be careful not to mix up the order.

All three share the 穴 radical but have different meanings. 窆 specifically means to lower a coffin into a grave (burial), while 究 means "to study or investigate" and 穷 means "poor or exhausted." Visually, 窆 contains 乏 (lacking), 究 contains 九 (nine), and 穷 contains 力 (strength/effort).

窆 is very rare in everyday speech and mainly appears in classical literature or formal funeral contexts, such as in the word 窆葬 (burial). It is not part of the HSK vocabulary, so learners may encounter it only when reading ancient texts or discussing traditional burial practices.

Common words containing 窆 include: 窆葬 (biǎn zàng) — To bury or burial.; 下窆 (xià biǎn) — to lower a coffin into a grave; to bury; 窆石 (biǎn shí) — A stone used to lower a coffin or a tombstone..