浸 (jìn) — to soak, to steep; to immerse (often figuratively)

Definition

Examples

  • 浸。
    Bǎ yī fu jìn zài shuǐ lǐ.
    Soak the clothes in water.
  • 浸。
    Tā jìn zài xìng fú de huí yì zhōng.
    He is immersed in happy memories.
  • 浸。
    Yòng lěng shuǐ jìn yí xià máo jīn.
    Soak the towel in cold water for a bit.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡩠
𡩠𡩠浸jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

浸 is built from 水, meaning water, and 𡩠, which gives the sound.

Appears in

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