clod of earth

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
土 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

earth

可 sound component

  Sound component

  

able to

Evolution

坷 Seal script Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal script

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
坷 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
坷 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

clod of earth, lump of soil; uneven (path); unfortunate (in life)

Most common words with 坷
Freq.
Word
Meaning

坎坷

bumpy (of a road)

uneven (path)

坎坷不平

potholed and bumpy road (idiom); fig. full of disappointment and dashed hopes

坷垃

(dialect) clod (of earth)

命途坎坷

to have a tough life