沉湎 (chén miǎn) — to indulge in; to wallow in

Definition

Literary/formal verb meaning 'to wallow in, indulge in (a vice or past)', typically negative habits like alcohol, games, or regret. Far more formal than plain 沉溺.

verb
to indulge into wallow in

Examples

  • 沉湎，。
    Tā chén miǎn yú jiǔ jīng, wú fǎ zì bá.
    He indulged in alcohol and couldn't extricate himself.
  • 沉湎，。
    Bú yào chén miǎn yú guò qù de shī bài, yào xiàng qián kàn.
    Don't wallow in past failures; look forward.
  • 沉湎，。
    Tā chén miǎn yú wǎng luò yóu xì, huāng fèi le xué yè.
    He wallowed in online games and neglected his studies.

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.

沉chénsink
湎miǎndrown

沉 conveys sinking and 湎 conveys drowning in drink, so together they express indulging.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 沉 →

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
面
面miàn湎
Same sound today

湎 is built from 氵, the water mark, and 面, which is used here for the sound.

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