Definitions

dilatory; to moisten

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. (water) represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 濡 is a verb meaning to soak, dip, immerse, or moisten. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left radical 氵 indicates its connection to water or liquid, while the right component 需 provides the sound ru. Beyond this physical sense, 濡 is often used metaphorically to describe being influenced or steeped in a culture, habit, or educational environment, suggesting a gradual, absorbing process akin to water seeping into a material.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern