酣

hān

甘 + 酉

Definitions

hān intoxicated

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 酉 represents the meaning and 甘 represents the sound.

Semantic: 酉 Phonetic: 甘

About

酣 (hān) is a phono-semantic compound character. The left-side radical 酉 (yǒu), a pictograph of an ancient wine vessel, gives the semantic category of alcohol, drinking, or fermentation. The right-side component 甘 (gān, sweet) serves as the phonetic element, indicating the pronunciation. Originally, the character denotes a state of pleasant intoxication, enjoying alcohol's effects thoroughly without becoming completely drunk. From this literal sense of convivial drinking, the meaning broadened to describe any activity, event, or state experienced with full intensity and to one's utmost satisfaction. This extended meaning is clearly seen in modern words such as 酣睡 (hānshuì), which means a deep, heavy, and immensely satisfying sleep, showing how the idea of alcoholic enjoyment transferred to a broader sense of deep, contented experience.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

小宝宝在酣睡。

Xiǎo bǎobǎo zài hānshuì.

The little baby is sleeping soundly.

他们酣饮到深夜。

Tāmen hānyǐn dào shēnyè.

They drank heartily until late at night.

比赛进行得十分酣畅。

Bǐsài jìnxíng dé shífēn hānchàng.

The match is proceeding very heartily.

战士们正在酣战。

Zhànshìmen zhèngzài hānzhàn.

The soldiers are in the thick of battle.

他酣睡了一整个下午。

Tā hānshuìle yī zhěnggè xiàwǔ.

He slept soundly the entire afternoon.

欢聚之后，大家酣饮畅谈。

Huānjù zhīhòu, dàjiā hānyǐn chàngtán.

After the joyful gathering, everyone drank heartily and chatted freely.

这场篮球赛双方酣战至加时赛。

Zhè chǎng lánqiúsài shuāngfāng hānzhàn zhì jiāshísài.

In this basketball game, both sides fought fiercely into overtime.

尽管外面下着大雨，他仍酣然入睡。

Jǐnguǎn wàimiàn xiàzhe dàyǔ, tā réng hānrán rùshuì.

Despite the heavy rain outside, he still fell into a deep sleep.

Related Characters

Component: 甘

Component: 酉

酣