涩

澀/澁
sè
刃 + 止 + 氵

Definitions

sè (adjective) astringent; tart
sè (adjective) rough; unsmooth (surface)
sè (adjective) hard to understand; obscure

Etymology

Simplified form of 澀. Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 歰 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "unsmooth". The meaning later shifted to "rough" and "astringent".

About

涩 (sè) is the simplified form of the traditional 澀, a phono-semantic compound. The water radical 氵 points to the original meaning "unsmooth", suggesting resistance when moving through liquid, while the component 歰 (sè) supplies the sound. In the traditional character, 歰 originally depicted feet meeting an obstacle, reinforcing the idea of impeded movement; the simplified version condenses this to 刃 and 止. Over time, the meaning broadened from "unsmooth" to include physical roughness, the dry, astringent taste of unripe fruit, and, by extension, speech or writing that is difficult to understand or lacks fluency.

Example Sentences Hide

这个柿子有点涩。

Zhè ge shì zi yǒu diǎn sè.

This persimmon is a bit astringent.

他尝到了涩涩的味道。

Tā cháng dào le sè sè de wèi dào.

He tasted an astringent flavor.

生活有时充满苦涩。

Shēng huó yǒu shí chōng mǎn kǔ sè.

Life is sometimes full of bitterness.

他回忆起青涩的青春。

Tā huí yì qǐ qīng sè de qīng chūn.

He recalls the inexperienced youth.

她的演讲显得有点生涩。

Tā de yǎn jiǎng xiǎn dé yǒu diǎn shēng sè.

Her speech seemed a bit clumsy.

长时间看书眼睛干涩。

Cháng shí jiān kàn shū yǎn jīng gān sè.

Reading for a long time makes the eyes dry and rough.

这篇哲学文章非常晦涩。

Zhè piān zhé xué wén zhāng fēi cháng huì sè.

This philosophy article is very obscure.

初次尝试的苦涩与甘甜都令人难忘。

Chū cì cháng shì de kǔ sè yǔ gān tián dōu lìng rén nán wàng.

The bitterness and sweetness of the first attempt are both unforgettable.

Related Characters

Component: 刃

忍 韧 纫 仞 轫 訒 韌 衂 讱 靭 軔 丒 刅 刼

Component: 止

此 正 步 企 武 止 肯 址 歧 扯 耻 趾 芷 祉

Component: 氵

法 没 海 活 治 清 济 流 深 满 消 注 派 河

Example Words

羞涩 苦涩 青涩 干涩 酸涩 冷涩 囊中羞涩 晦涩 涩味 生涩 咸涩