old variant of 深

JLPT N3 11 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (shēn) primarily means "deep" in both literal and figurative senses. It can describe physical depth, such as water or a hole, as well as abstract depth, like deep feelings, understanding, or relationships.

Common Collocations

  • (shēn shuǐ): deep water, used when talking about bodies of water.
  • (shēnhòu): profound or deep, often used for feelings or relationships.
  • 深刻 (shēnkè): profound or deep, used for thoughts, understanding, or impressions.

Usage Notes

When using to describe physical depth, it often appears with nouns like (water), (cave), or (underground). For abstract uses, it combines with words like 友谊 (friendship), 理解 (understanding), or 感情 (feelings).

Avoid confusing with (qiǎn), which means shallow. Also, is often used in formal or literary contexts when describing profound ideas or emotions.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse with (shēnrù), which means "to go deep into" or "to penetrate." is an adjective, while is a verb phrase.

Summary

is a versatile adjective describing depth in both physical and metaphorical contexts. It is frequently used in everyday conversation and formal writing to express intensity or profundity.

Example Sentences

The water in this river is very deep; you can't just go swimming casually.

They have a deep friendship between them.

He has a profound understanding of this issue.