潜

潛

qián

替 + 氵

Definitions

qián (adjective) hidden; concealed

qián (verb) to submerge; to dive

qián (adjective) latent; potential

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 替 represents the sound. Simplified form of 潛.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 替

About

潜 is the simplified form of 潛, a phono-semantic compound. The left component 氵, the water radical, signals a connection to water or submersion, while the right component 替 indicates the pronunciation; in the traditional character, the phonetic element was 朁. Its original meaning was diving underwater, and because being submerged conceals one from view, the sense broadened to encompass hidden, latent, and secret things. Today it often appears in words for potential energy, subconscious thoughts, and stealthy actions.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我很喜欢潜水。

Wǒ hěn xǐhuān qiánshuǐ.

I really like diving.

他很有潜力。

Tā hěn yǒu qiánlì.

He has great potential.

敌人潜伏在附近。

Dírén qiánfú zài fùjìn.

The enemy is lurking nearby.

潜意识影响我们的决定。

Qiányìshí yǐngxiǎng wǒmen de juédìng.

The subconscious influences our decisions.

这里潜藏着巨大的能量。

Zhèlǐ qiáncáng zhe jùdà de néngliàng.

Great energy is hidden here.

他悄悄潜入了敌人的基地。

Tā qiāoqiāo qiánrù le dírén de jīdì.

He quietly sneaked into the enemy's base.

那名逃犯已经潜逃多年。

Nà míng táofàn yǐjīng qiántáo duō nián.

That fugitive has been on the run for many years.

这项技术具有广阔的应用潜力。

Zhè xiàng jìshù jùyǒu guǎngkuò de yìngyòng qiánlì.

This technology has broad application potential.

Related Characters

Component: 替

Component: 氵

潜