# 掘 — dig

掘 means “dig”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 11 strokes. On'yomi: クツ (kutsu). Kun'yomi: ほ(る) (horu). You'll see it in words such as 掘る (horu, “to dig; to excavate”).

- Meaning: dig
- On'yomi: クツ (kutsu)
- Kun'yomi: ほ(る) (horu)
- Strokes: 11
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Hands at work 3

## How to remember 掘

Sounds like 屈: both read クツ.

Parts: 扌 hand · 屈 stoop

## Words with 掘

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 掘る | ほる (horu) | to dig; to excavate |

## Don't confuse it with

[屈](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/stoop/) · [拙](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/clumsy/) · [堀](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/moat/)

## More in the “Hands at work 3” set

[刺](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/pierce/) · [掃](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/sweep/) · [掘](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/dig/) · [捨](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/throw-away/) · [塗](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/paint/) · [磨](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/scrub/) · [挟](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/pinch/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/dig/. Last updated 2026-11-01.