湛

zhàn

氵 + 甚

Definitions

zhàn (adjective) deep; clear (of water)

zhàn (verb) to soak; to immerse

Etymology

A deep 甚 lake 氵; 甚 also provides the pronunciation

About

湛 is a phono-semantic compound: the left radical 氵 (a form of 水 'water') marks the semantic category, and the right component 甚 means 'deep' while also guiding the pronunciation, hence the compound suggests a deep lake. The character originally referred to water that is deep, remarkably clear, or utterly calm. From this physical sense, it developed a figurative use for abstract depth, signifying profoundness, intensity, or thoroughness in contexts such as wisdom, artistic expression, and emotion. It can also serve as a surname.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天空湛蓝如洗。

Tiānkōng zhànlán rú xǐ.

The sky is azure as if washed.

他的技艺非常精湛。

Tā de jìyì fēicháng jīngzhàn.

His skills are very exquisite.

湖水清湛见底。

Hú shuǐ qīngzhàn jiàn dǐ.

The lake water is clear and deep, revealing the bottom.

湛江是广东的一个城市。

Zhànjiāng shì Guǎngdōng de yīgè chéngshì.

Zhanjiang is a city in Guangdong.

她穿着湛蓝色的裙子。

Tā chuānzhe zhànlán sè de qúnzi.

She is wearing a deep blue dress.

这幅画展示了精湛的工艺。

Zhè fú huà zhǎnshì le jīngzhàn de gōngyì.

This painting demonstrates exquisite craftsmanship.

他的解释使得道理更加湛深。

Tā de jiěshì shǐdé dàolǐ gèngjiā zhànshēn.

His explanation made the reasoning more profound.

只有通过不懈努力，才能达到技艺精湛的境界。

Zhǐyǒu tōngguò búxiè nǔlì, cáinéng dádào jìyì jīngzhàn de jìngjiè.

Only through unremitting effort can one reach the realm of exquisite skill.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 氵

Component: 甚

湛