挖掘

• 拼音: wā jué
• 汉字拆解: 挖 = 扌 (hand) + 空 (hollow out); 掘 = 扌 (hand) + 屈 (bend, crouch) — digging with bent posture

含义

To excavate; to dig out; to unearth; to explore and develop. Both physical digging and the metaphorical discovery of hidden potential or information.

Used both literally (archaeological excavation, construction digging) and extensively in metaphorical senses: 挖掘潜力 (tap potential), 挖掘人才 (identify talent), 挖掘信息 (mine data). The metaphorical usage is extremely common in HR, education, and business strategy discourse. Implies active effort to bring something hidden to light.

例句

1. 考古队在这片遗址挖掘出大量珍贵的青铜器。
2. 优秀的教育者善于挖掘每一位学生的潜力。
3. 数据分析师通过挖掘用户行为数据，找到了提升留存率的关键因素。

用法指南

语境: archaeology, HR, data, education

语气: purposeful

正确说法

• 企业要善于挖掘内部人才，不能只靠外部招聘。(Companies should be good at identifying internal talent, not relying solely on external recruitment.)
• 这部纪录片深入挖掘了那段鲜为人知的历史。(This documentary deeply excavates that little-known piece of history.)

错误说法

• 把表面的观察称为'挖掘' (挖掘 implies going beneath the surface — surface-level observation is 观察 or 了解)

起源与历史

Compound of 挖 (dig out, scoop) + 掘 (dig, excavate). Both characters describe digging — together they intensify the sense of thorough, purposeful excavation.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal