Definitions

qiǎn (adjective) shallow
qiǎn (adjective) light (color)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 浅, whose traditional form is 淺, originates from the concept of water depth, as seen in its water radical 氵. The right-hand component 戔 in the traditional form carries connotations of smallness or reduction, aligning with the idea of limited depth, while the simplified form substitutes this with 戋, maintaining a similar function. Initially denoting physical shallowness, particularly in bodies of water, the character's meaning gradually extended to describe superficial qualities, light hues, and simple or elementary matters.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个湖的水很

Zhège hú de shuǐ hěn qiǎn.

The water in this lake is very shallow.

我买了一件蓝色的衬衫。

Wǒ mǎile yī jiàn qiǎn lán sè de chènshān.

I bought a light blue shirt.

孩子们在水区玩耍。

Háizimen zài qiǎn shuǐ qū wánshuǎ.

The children are playing in the shallow water area.

他对这个问题的理解很

Tā duì zhège wèntí de lǐjiě hěn qiǎn.

His understanding of this issue is superficial.

这篇文章内容显,容易读懂。

Zhè piān wénzhāng nèiróng qiǎnxiǎn, róngyì dú dǒng.

The content of this article is simple and easy to understand.

我们只是交,并不熟悉。

Wǒmen zhǐshì qiǎn jiāo, bìng bù shúxī.

We are just casual acquaintances and not familiar with each other.

这种层分析无法揭示根本原因。

Zhè zhǒng qiǎn céng fēnxī wúfǎ jiēshì gēnběn yuányīn.

This superficial analysis cannot reveal the root cause.

她用显的语言解释了复杂的理论。

Tā yòng qiǎnxiǎn de yǔyán jiěshì le fùzá de lǐlùn.

She explained the complex theory in simple language.