深浅 (shēn qiǎn) — (literal) depth (of water, hole, etc.); degree, seriousness (of a matter or relationship); limits; true character; situation (in phrases like 不知深浅)
Definition
A paired noun covering both literal depth (water, a hole) and figurative 'degree / seriousness / limits'. Often used in fixed phrases like 不知深浅 ('doesn't know the limits').
noun
(literal) depth (of water, hole, etc.)degreeseriousness (of a matter or relationship)limitstrue charactersituation (in phrases like 不知深浅)
Examples
- 深浅？Zhè tiáo hé de shēn qiǎn nǐ zhī dào shì duō shǎo ma?Do you know how deep this river is?
- 深浅。Tā duì zhè jiàn shì de shēn qiǎn bú tài liǎo jiě.He doesn't quite understand the seriousness of this matter.
- 深浅，。Tā zuò shì bù zhī shēn qiǎn, zǒng shì gěi zì jǐ rě má fan.He acts without knowing the limits, always causing trouble for himself.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.