How to Write 潜 (qián) — Meaning “to submerge; hidden”

Picture a diver wearing a cap (the top part of 朁) who dives into water (氵) and stays hidden below the surface. The cap helps them remain unseen, so you can remember that 潜 means 'to dive' or 'hidden'. This visual connects the water radical and the cap-like shape above.

Write the left radical 氵 as three separate dots aligned vertically, not connected. For the right part 朁, first write the top strokes (like 夂), then the bottom part which is 曰 (a wide mouth shape), not 日 (narrow). A common mistake is making the bottom too narrow or writing it as 日 instead of 曰.

潜 means 'to submerge' or 'hidden' and is a verb or adjective, while 溏 (táng) is a noun meaning 'pond' or 'thick liquid', and 源 (yuán) is a noun meaning 'source' or 'origin'. Visually, 潜 has 朁 on the right, 溏 has 唐, and 源 has 原. Their meanings are not interchangeable, so focus on the right side component.

潜 appears in common words like 潜水 (scuba diving), 潜力 (hidden potential), and 潜心 (to concentrate deeply). It is often used in formal or literary contexts, such as the idiom 潜移默化 (imperceptible influence). This character helps express ideas of concealment, depth, or gradual change.

Common words containing 潜 include: 潜水 (qián shuǐ) — to dive; diving; 潜力 (qián lì) — potential; 潜心 (qián xīn) — to concentrate; with great care.