深层 (shēn céng) — deep layer; deep level (physical or abstract) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

deep layerdeep level (physical or abstract)

Examples

深层。
Dì qiú de shēn céng jié gòu fēi cháng fù zá.
The deep structure of the Earth is very complex.
深层。
Zhè ge wèn tí shè jí dào le shēn céng de wén huà yuán yīn.
This issue touches on deep cultural reasons.
深层。
Yán jiū zhě shì tú fēn xī fàn zuì de shēn céng dòng jī.
Researchers tried to analyze the deep motives behind the crime.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

深 suggests deep and 层 suggests layer, so 深层 means a deep layer or level.

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

尸曾層

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng層céng

Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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