TongTong
Sign in

深刻 (shēn kè) — profound, deep (of thoughts, impressions, understanding, etc.)

Definition

深刻 is 'profound, deep' for thoughts, impressions, or understanding. Stronger than 深厚 (which is for feelings/relationships) and more accessible than 深奥 (which implies hard to understand).

adjective
profounddeep (of thoughts, impressions, understanding, etc.)

Examples

  • 深刻。
    Tā de wén zhāng tí chū le shēn kè de wèn tí.
    His article raised profound questions.
  • 深刻。
    Wǒ men xū yào duì zhè ge wèn tí jìn xíng shēn kè de sī kǎo.
    We need to engage in deep reflection on this issue.
  • 深刻。
    Tā de huà ràng wǒ yǒu le yí cì shēn kè de tǐ huì.
    Her words gave me a profound insight.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

深shēndeep
刻kèthorough

深 and 刻 both convey depth or thoroughness, so together they describe something penetrating and intense.

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
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 →

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
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài刻kè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刻 is made of 刂, a form of 刀 (knife), and 亥, which gives the sound.

Open 刻 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract ConceptsThinking & Cognition3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.