noun HSK 6
Traditional 淵
abyss · deep pool · profound
Meaning
渊 refers to a deep pool of water or an abyss, and by extension describes something profoundly deep or vast. It carries literary and philosophical connotations, often used metaphorically to describe depth of knowledge, thought, or mystery.
Usage
This is a literary character rarely used alone in modern spoken Chinese. It appears most commonly in compound words like 深渊 (deep abyss) or classical expressions. In contemporary usage, it typically conveys seriousness, profundity, or ancient wisdom, and is more common in written than spoken contexts.
Examples
- 01他的学识渊博，令人敬佩。, .His erudition is profound and admirable.
- 02一失足成千古恨，再回首已是百年身，如坠深渊。, , .One misstep causes eternal regret; looking back after a lifetime, it's like falling into an abyss.
Common collocations
- 深渊deep abyss
- 渊博erudite, profound
- 渊源origin, source
- 学识渊博profound learning
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 淵 combines the water radical 氵(water) with 𠕀, which depicts a whirlpool or spinning water. This pictophonetic character originally depicted a deep, swirling pool of water.