窟

Phono-semantic compound:

穴 (구멍 혈, “hole, cavity”) — semantic, indicating something hollowed out in earth or rock.

屈 (굽을 굴, “bend, bow”) — phonetic, providing the sound 굴.

The graph conveys the sense of a hollowed-out, bent-in place — i.e. a natural or man-made cave.

동굴 (洞窟) — cave, cavern

석굴 (石窟) — stone grotto, rock-cut cave (e.g. Buddhist cave temples)

혈굴 (穴窟) — den, burrow

은굴 (隱窟) — hidden cave, refuge

Often paired with 洞 (동, “cave, cavern”) to form 洞窟, emphasizing a natural cave.

Used metaphorically to mean a hideout or lair.