How to Write 窅 (yǎo) — Meaning “Deep, sunken, or far.”

Imagine a person standing in a cave (穴) with their eye (目) staring far into the darkness, seeing something deep and distant. This picture of a single eye peering into a deep cave will remind you that 窅 means deep, sunken, or far.

The upper part 穴 must be wider, covering the lower 目 completely. The bottom stroke of 穴 (the curved hook under the 宀) should reach down far enough to enclose the side of 目. A common mistake is making the top too narrow, so practice keeping the cave shape broad to accommodate the eye below.

穸 (xī) has the same radical 穴 but means 'tomb' or 'coffin pit,' using the element 夕 (evening) to suggest burial. 穹 (qióng) has 穴 on top and 弓 (bow) below, meaning a dome or vault, like the sky. While 窅 emphasizes depth and distance, 穸 is specific to graves, and 穹 describes a curved, arched shape.

窅 is a classical literary character rarely used in everyday conversation, but it appears in poetry and elegant writing to describe profound depth or obscurity. For example, 窅然 means 'deep and far' in texts, and 窅窅 describes a dark, distant scene. You may encounter it in classical Chinese literature or calligraphy but not in modern HSK vocabulary.

Common words containing 窅 include: 窅然 (yǎo rán) — Deep and far or sunken.; 窅渺 (yǎo miǎo) — Distant and vague or profound.; 窅窅 (yǎo yǎo) — Deep and dark or distant..