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深处 (shēn chù) — (noun) the depths; deep part (of a physical place); (noun) the depths; innermost part (of an abstract domain, e.g., emotions, thoughts)

Definition

Literary word for 'the depths' of a place or, more often, an abstract domain (heart, memory, thought). Pairs with 在 + 的 — 在记忆的深处, not as a verb.

noun
the depthsdeep part (of a physical place)the depthsinnermost part (of an abstract domain, e.g., emotions, thoughts)

Examples

  • 深处，。
    Wǒ men zǒu dào le sēn lín shēn chù, sì zhōu ān jìng jí le.
    We walked into the depths of the forest, and it was extremely quiet all around.
  • 深处，。
    Zài nèi xīn de shēn chù, tā qí shí hěn zài hu jiā rén.
    In the depths of his heart, he actually cares a lot about his family.
  • 深处。
    Dà hǎi de shēn chù yǐn cáng zhe xǔ duō mì mì.
    The depths of the ocean hide many secrets.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

深shēndeep
处chùplace

A 处 place that is 深 deep, the depths.

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
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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →
Appears in
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