verb HSK 5
to wade · to involve · to concern · to experience
Meaning
涉 originally meant to cross a river by wading through water. This physical meaning has extended metaphorically to mean being involved in or concerned with various matters, especially in formal or written contexts.
Usage
涉 is primarily used in formal or written Chinese. It commonly appears in compounds like 涉及 (to involve), 涉嫌 (to be suspected of), and 干涉 (to interfere). When used alone, it often means to wade through water or to experience something, though the standalone usage is less common in modern speech.
Examples
- 01这个案件涉及多个部门。.This case involves multiple departments.
- 02他们涉水过河到达对岸。.They waded across the river to reach the opposite bank.
Common collocations
- 涉及问题to involve a problem
- 涉嫌犯罪suspected of a crime
- 涉水而过to wade across water
- 涉足to set foot in, to dabble in
Origin
The character 涉 is a pictophonetic character with the water radical 氵(water) on the left, suggesting its original meaning of crossing water. The right component provides the phonetic element, creating an image of moving through water.