Definitions

zhàn (adjective) deep; clear (of water)
zhàn (verb) to soak; to immerse

Etymology

A deep  lake  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character 湛, in its traditional form, is structurally composed of the water radical (氵) on the left and the component 甚 on the right, a combination which directly informs its core etymology related to water. Its primary and original meaning is that of deep, clear, or tranquil water, a definition consistently preserved through classical texts. From this aqueous foundation, the character’s application broadened metaphorically to describe anything possessing a similar quality of deepness or intensity, leading to meanings such as profound, penetrating, or serene. This semantic extension allowed it to be used in contexts far removed from its literal origins, such as describing deep thought or a rich, saturated color, while never entirely shedding its fundamental connection to the essence of clear depth.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天空蓝如洗。

Tiānkōng zhànlán rú xǐ.

The sky is azure as if washed.

他的技艺非常精

Tā de jìyì fēicháng jīngzhàn.

His skills are very exquisite.

湖水清见底。

Hú shuǐ qīngzhàn jiàn dǐ.

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

江是广东的一个城市。

Zhànjiāng shì Guǎngdōng de yīgè chéngshì.

Zhanjiang is a city in Guangdong.

她穿着蓝色的裙子。

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.