潜水

せんすい

diving

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"潜水" literally means "to dive underwater," commonly used in contexts related to swimming or diving sports. However, it also has a figurative meaning in online communication, where it describes someone who reads messages or participates silently without actively contributing, often called "lurking."

Common Collocations

  • 潜水运动 (diving sport): refers to the physical activity of diving underwater.
  • 潜水 (diver): a person who dives.
  • 潜水 (lurking in a group): staying silent in a chat group without posting messages.

Usage Notes

When used literally, "潜水" is a verb describing the action of going underwater. In online contexts, it is often used as a verb to describe silent participation. This dual usage is common in modern Chinese, especially among younger speakers.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse "潜水" with "" (tiàoshuǐ), which means "to dive" but usually refers to diving from a platform or springboard. "潜水" emphasizes submerging underwater, while "" emphasizes the jump or dive itself.

Example Sentences

He likes to go diving at the beach on weekends.

In the WeChat group, he often lurks and rarely speaks.

Diving is a sport that requires professional training.