How to Write 窖 (jiào) — Meaning “A cellar or pit.”

Picture a cave (穴) where you keep jars of wine, and each time you go in you have to 'report' (告) how many are left. This connects the idea of a cellar with the act of telling, making it easier to recall the shape.

Write the top radical 穴 narrow and centered, with the bottom part 告 directly below. The total stroke count is 12: first the 5 strokes of 穴, then the 7 strokes of 告. A common mistake is making the top too wide, which unbalances the character.

窖 means a cellar or storage pit, while 窄 means narrow or tight, and 窅 means deep or hollow (often used for eyes). Visually, 窖 has 告 below, 窄 has 乍 (sudden), and 窅 has 目 (eye). Their meanings are distinct: one is for storage, one for width, one for depth.

You see 窖 in words like 地窖 (cellar), 酒窖 (wine cellar), and 冰窖 (ice house). It refers to underground spaces for storing wine, food, or ice. In northern China, traditional 地窖 are still used to keep vegetables fresh during winter.

Common words containing 窖 include: 地窖 (dì jiào) — Cellar; basement storage; 酒窖 (jiǔ jiào) — Wine cellar; 冰窖 (bīng jiào) — Ice cellar.