潭

tán

氵 + 覃

Definitions

tán (noun) deep pool; pond

tán (noun) depression; pit

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 覃

About

潭 is a phono-semantic compound character that pairs a water radical with a depth component. The left side 氵, meaning water, identifies the referent as a body of water. The right side 覃 originally conveyed something extending deep or far down; it provides the pronunciation and simultaneously reinforces the idea of deep water. Consequently, 潭 denotes a deep pool, natural pond, or deep hollow in a river, emphasizing depth and stillness in contrast to shallow puddles or flowing streams.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个小潭很清澈。

Zhè gè xiǎo tán hěn qīngchè.

This small pool is very clear.

水潭里有很多鱼。

Shuǐ tán lǐ yǒu hěnduō yú.

There are many fish in the water pool.

我们在潭边野餐。

Wǒmen zài tán biān yěcān.

We had a picnic by the pool.

潭水的颜色是碧绿的。

Tán shuǐ de yánsè shì bìlǜ de.

The color of the pool water is emerald green.

他不小心掉进了泥潭。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn diào jìn le ní tán.

He accidentally fell into the mud pit.

这个深潭据说有怪物。

Zhè gè shēn tán jùshuō yǒu guàiwu.

This deep pool is said to have monsters.

探险队计划潜入潭底调查。

Tànxiǎn duì jìhuà qián rù tán dǐ diàochá.

The expedition team plans to dive into the bottom of the pool for investigation.

由于暴雨，山上的潭水泛滥成灾。

Yóuyú bàoyǔ, shān shàng de tán shuǐ fànlàn chéng zāi.

Due to the heavy rain, the pool water on the mountain flooded and caused a disaster.

Related Characters

Component: 氵

Component: 覃

潭