Definitions

(noun) depression; sunken area; hollow
(noun) swamp

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "洼", representing a low-lying area or depression, originates from its traditional form "窪" which structurally combines the "穴" radical indicating a cavity or hollow with the component "圭" serving primarily a phonetic function. In its simplified iteration, the water radical "氵" substitutes the cavity radical, thereby emphasizing the water-collecting attribute of such terrain while preserving the original phonetic element. This structural adjustment refines the character's visual representation to more directly convey the idea of a water-filled hollow, a meaning that has remained essentially consistent throughout its historical usage, consistently referring to geographical features like basins or marshy grounds. The character's etymology is thus anchored in the depiction of physical landscapes, and its evolution in form has strengthened the semantic link to wet or inundated depressions without altering its core signification.

Example Sentences Hide

这里有个小水

zhè lǐ yǒu gè xiǎo shuǐ wā。

There is a small puddle here.

雨后路面形成了许多

yǔ hòu lù miàn xíng chéng le xǔ duō wā。

After the rain, many depressions formed on the road surface.

车辆小心地绕过那个深

chē liàng xiǎo xīn de rào guò nà gè shēn wā。

The vehicle carefully drove around that deep pothole.

这片地适合种植水稻。

zhè piàn wā dì shì hé zhòng zhí shuǐ dào。

This low-lying land is suitable for planting rice.

那个水里映出了蓝天白云。

nà gè shuǐ wā lǐ yìng chū le lán tiān bái yún。

The blue sky and white clouds were reflected in that puddle.

城市开发时要注意填平那些积水

chéng shì kāi fā shí yào zhù yì tián píng nà xiē jī shuǐ wā。

When developing the city, attention must be paid to filling in those waterlogged depressions.

这片地形低,容易发生内涝。

zhè piàn dì xíng dī wā, róng yì fā shēng nèi lào。

The terrain here is low-lying, making it prone to waterlogging.

地质勘探队正在调查盆地边缘的沉降地。

dì zhì kān tàn duì zhèng zài diào chá pén dì biān yuán de chén jiàng wā dì。

The geological survey team is investigating the subsidence depressions at the edge of the basin.