幽深 (yōu shēn) — (of a place) deep, secluded, and quiet; remote and serene

Definition

Describes a place that feels deep, quiet, and far from people — a forest, valley, or temple path. A more literary, atmospheric word than the plain 深 ('deep').

verb
(of a place) deepsecludedand quietremote and serene

Examples

  • 幽深，。
    Zhè tiáo xiǎo lù hěn yōu shēn, liǎng biān dōu shì dà shù.
    This path is deep and quiet, with big trees on both sides.
  • 幽深，。
    Shān gǔ lǐ fēi cháng yōu shēn, zhǐ néng tīng dào niǎo jiào shēng.
    The valley is very deep and secluded; you can only hear birdsong.
  • 幽深，。
    Gǔ miào cáng zài yōu shēn de shù lín zhōng, hěn shǎo yǒu rén zhǎo dào.
    The ancient temple is hidden in the deep, quiet forest, and few people find it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

幽yōusecluded
深shēndeep

幽 conveys seclusion and 深 conveys depth, together describing a remote place.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢆶
𢆶𢆶幽yōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

幽 pairs 山, mountain, with 𢆶 as a sound part.

Open 幽 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥥍
𥥍𥥍深shēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

深 is built from 氵, the side form of 水 “water”, and 𥥍, which supplies the sound.

Open 深 →

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