1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “深” (shin) means “deep” or “profound.” It can refer to physical depth, such as the depth of water, as well as metaphorical depth, such as deep thoughts or feelings.
2. Formation and Radical
Formation of the Kanji: The kanji “深” is a phonetic-ideographic character (形声文字). It combines the radical for water (水) on the left, which suggests depth, and the phonetic component “シン” (shin) on the right, which provides the pronunciation.
Radical: The radical of “深” is 水 (mizu), meaning “water,” which is often associated with depth.
3. Examples of Usage
Common Words and Phrases: Some frequently used words that include “深” are:
- 深い (fukai) – deep
- 深刻 (shinkoku) – serious, grave
- 深海 (shinkai) – deep sea
Example Sentences in Daily Conversation:
- この湖はとても深いです。 (Kono mizuumi wa totemo fukai desu.) – This lake is very deep.
- 彼の考えは深刻です。 (Kare no kangae wa shinkoku desu.) – His thoughts are serious.
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar Kanji: A similar kanji is “濃” (nou), which means “thick” or “dense.” While both can imply a sense of depth, “深” focuses more on vertical depth, whereas “濃” refers to density or richness.
Opposite Kanji: The antonym of “深” is “浅” (asa), which means “shallow.” This term is used to describe something that does not have much depth.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
Relation to Japanese Culture: The concept of depth is significant in Japanese culture, often symbolizing wisdom and understanding. The idea of “深い” thoughts is highly valued in literature and philosophy.
Proverbs and Idioms: One common saying is “深い川には流れがある” (Fukai kawa ni wa nagare ga aru), which translates to “A deep river has a current,” implying that there is often more beneath the surface than what is visible.