深 (shēn) — deep / dark

深 (shēn)

深 means deep. It has both a physical sense (a deep lake or well) and an abstract sense (a profound idea or deep feeling). It also describes dark shades of color, such as 深色 (dark color) and 深蓝 (dark blue). Its opposite is 浅 (shallow or light-colored).

Meanings

1. [adjective] Deep; extending far down or inward (physical measurement).
2. [adjective] Profound; strong; intense (abstract meaning).
3. [adjective] Dark (color shade).

Example Sentences

这条河很深，不能游泳。 Zhè tiáo hé hěn shēn, bù néng yóuyǒng. This river is very deep; you cannot swim in it.

他对这件事的印象很深。 Tā duì zhè jiàn shì de yìnxiàng hěn shēn. He has a very deep impression of this matter.

她穿了一件深蓝色的裙子。 Tā chuān le yī jiàn shēnlán sè de qúnzi. She wore a dark blue dress.

这本书的内容很深，我还看不懂。 Zhè běn shū de nèiróng hěn shēn, wǒ hái kàn bu dǒng. The content of this book is very profound; I still cannot understand it.

Collocations

Memory Hook

深 has the water radical (氵). A deep place is where water goes down and down into the darkness. Whether it is a dark pool or a dark idea, 深 takes you to the bottom.