深邃 (shēn suì) — (of physical spaces, night) deep and serene; (of thoughts, knowledge) profound and abstruse

Definition

Literary word for what is both deep and unfathomable — used for physical spaces, night, and abstract thought. Stronger and more poetic than 深奥; 玄 stresses the mysterious, 深邃 adds quiet depth.

adjective
(of physical spaces, night) deep and serene(of thoughts, knowledge) profound and abstruse

Examples

  • 深邃
    Zhè ge shān gǔ shí fēn shēn suì, fǎng fú cáng le wú jìn de mì mì.
    This valley is very deep and serene, as if hiding endless secrets.
  • 深邃
    Yè wǎn de sēn lín shēn suì ér níng jìng, zhī tīng jiàn fēng shēng.
    The forest at night is deep and quiet, only the wind can be heard.
  • 深邃
    Tā de lǐ lùn shí fēn shēn suì, bú shì chū xué zhě néng qīng yì lǐ jiě de.
    His theory is very profound and abstruse, not easily understood by beginners.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

suìremote depth

Depth and remote depth combine to describe something profound and far-reaching.

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
Written in full asshuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥥍
𥥍𥥍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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
xuécave
Sound part声符shēngfú
suìsuì
Same sound today

邃 pairs 穴 (cave) with 遂, which gives the character its sound.

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