坑

kēng

HSK 7

坑 — kēng

1. pit; hollow; depression; hole (general physical sense)

   他掉进了一个很深的坑。 tā diào jìn le yígè hěn shēn de kēng — He fell into a deep pit.

2. (mining) pit; shaft; tunnel; mine pit

   矿工在坑里工作了十小时才轮换。 kuànggōng zài kēnglǐ gōngzuò le shíxiǎoshí cái lúnhuàn — The miners worked in the pit for ten hours before rotating.

3. (literary) to bury alive; to kill by burying

   古代战犯有时被活活坑死，这是残酷的刑罚记载。 gǔdài zhànfàn yǒushí bèi huóhuó kēng sǐ zhè shì cánkù de xíngfá jìzǎi — In ancient times war criminals were sometimes buried alive; this is recorded as a cruel punishment.

4. (colloquial) to cheat; to swindle; to take advantage of someone (informal: 'to screw over')

   别被那家公司坑了，合同里有很多隐形条款。 bié bèi nàjiā gōngsī kēng le hétóng lǐ yǒu hěnduō yǐnxíng tiáokuǎn — Don't get cheated by that company; there are many hidden clauses in the contract.