How to Write 深 (shēn) — Meaning “deep; profound; dark (color)”

Imagine a person standing next to a river (氵) and taking a deep breath (shēn hū xī) before diving into a deep cave (the right side looks like a cave with a roof and a tree inside). This combines the sound and meaning into one vivid picture.

Pay attention to the right side 罙: it has a roof 冖 on top, then a small 八 under it, and finally a 木 (tree) at the bottom. A common mistake is to make the bottom part too tall or to forget the 八 between the roof and the tree. Write the strokes in order: water radical first, then roof, then 八, then 木.

洁 (jié) means clean and has the lucky radical 吉 on the right, like a clean word. 洄 (huí) means backflow and uses 回 (return) on the right, showing water going back. 深 uses 罙, which contains a cave-like shape, and always relates to depth or darkness, not cleanliness or movement.

You use 深 in everyday words like 深呼吸 (deep breath) when exercising, 深色 (dark color) for clothing, and 深处 (depths) for physical or emotional depth. In Chinese culture, 深 also describes profound thoughts or feelings, such as 深情 (deep affection), showing sincerity and intensity.

Common words containing 深 include: 深刻 (shēn kè) — deep; profound; deep-seated; 深呼吸 (shēn hū xī) — deep breath; 深处 (shēn chù) — depths; deep part.