How to Write 潭 (tán) — Meaning “deep pool; pond”

Imagine a deep pond (氵) where the water is so deep that you need to use a diving bell (覃, which looks like a bell shape) to explore it. The deeper you go, the darker it gets, like a sun (日) hidden under layers.

Start with the three dots of 氵 on the left, then write the right side 覃: first the top part 罒 (like a net, with four strokes), then 早 (sun over ten, with 日 and 十). Keep the left side narrow and the right side balanced, and avoid making the right side too tall.

潭 means 'deep pool' and has the 覃 component, while 溏 (táng) means 'pond' or 'muddy water' and uses 唐. 源 (yuán) means 'source' or 'origin' and uses 原. Visually, 潭 has a net-like top, 溏 has a roof-like top, and 源 has a cliff-like top.

潭 is used in words like 水潭 (shuǐ tán, pool) and 深潭 (shēn tán, deep pond). It is famous in the place name 日月潭 (Rì Yuè Tán, Sun Moon Lake) in Taiwan, a popular tourist destination. The character also appears in idioms such as 龙潭虎穴 (lóng tán hǔ xué, dragon's pool and tiger's den), meaning a dangerous place.

Common words containing 潭 include: 水潭 (shuǐ tán) — Pool or pond; 深潭 (shēn tán) — deep pool; deep pond; 日月潭 (rì yuè tán) — Sun Moon Lake.