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高深 (gāo shēn) — profound, deep (of knowledge, theories, etc.)

Definition

Used for knowledge or theories that are advanced and hard to understand, often with a positive sense of mastery. 深刻 is more about being 'deep' in thought or impression, while 高深 stresses that something is too difficult for most people.

adjective
profounddeep (of knowledge, theories, etc.)

Examples

  • 高深，。
    Tā de xué wèn fēi cháng gāo shēn, lìng rén jìng pèi.
    His knowledge is extremely profound and admirable.
  • 高深。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng tǎo lùn le yì xiē gāo shēn de lǐ lùn wèn tí.
    This article discusses some profound theoretical questions.
  • 高深，。
    Bié bǎ wèn tí xiǎng dé tài gāo shēn, qí shí hěn jiǎn dān.
    Don't overthink the problem — it's actually very simple.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

高gāohigh
深shēndeep

The 'high' and 'deep' senses blend to describe something profound.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

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 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsGood & Bad

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