洞穴(ほらあな)

ほらあな
noun
cave; cavern; grotto
1. cave; cavern; grotto
A natural hollow or opening in rock, typically large enough to enter. Used in both everyday and geological contexts.
洞穴(ほらあな)の中(なか)は涼(すず)しかった。
It was cool inside the cave.
古代(こだい)の人々(ひとびと)は洞穴(ほらあな)に住(す)んでいた。
Ancient people lived in caves.
山(やま)の奥(おく)に大(おお)きな洞穴(ほらあな)があり、コウモリが何百匹(なんびゃっぴき)も住(す)みついていた。
Deep in the mountains there was a large cave where hundreds of bats had made their home.

READING NOTE:
Also read as どうけつ in formal or scientific contexts. ほらあな is the standard everyday reading.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 洞穴(ほらあな)に入(はい)る: to enter a cave
  • 洞穴(ほらあな)を探検(たんけん)する: to explore a cave
  • 洞穴(ほらあな)壁画(へきが): cave paintings

SIMILAR WORDS:
洞窟(どうくつ) is the more common word for "cave" in written Japanese and refers to the same thing. 洞穴(ほらあな) is somewhat more colloquial.

WORD FORMATION:
洞(ほら) (cave) + 穴(あな) (hole).

general
Added 2026.3.11 13:34
16000/16206_horaana