深 (shēn) — deep (of water, hole, color, etc.); (figurative) deep, profound (of understanding, feeling, etc.)
Definition
The basic adjective 'deep' used for both physical depth (water, holes) and figurative depth (feelings, understanding). For 'profound/impressive', 深刻 is more common for thoughts and impressions.
deep (of water, hole, color, etc.)(figurative) deepprofound (of understanding, feeling, etc.)
Examples
- 深，。Zhè ge hú hěn shēn, xià tiān kě yǐ yóu yǒng.This lake is deep – you can swim in the summer.
- 深，？Zhè jiàn yī fu de yán sè tài shēn le, yǒu qiǎn yì diǎn de ma?The color of this clothes is too dark; do you have a lighter one?
- 深，。Tā duì zhè ge wèn tí liǎo jiě hěn shēn, kě yǐ wèn tā.He has a deep understanding of this issue – you can ask him.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
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.
Appears in
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