Origin

This character combines the earth radical 土 on the left, which classifies it as something related to soil or ground, with the component 亢 on the right that serves as a sound hint for pronunciation. The 亢 component doesn't contribute a meaning of its own but tells you roughly how to say the character. Together, the pairing of "earth" with this sound hint created a character for a pit or hole dug into the ground — a hollow place in the earth where you might trap someone or something.