How to Write 渊 (yuān) — Meaning “Deep pool or abyss.”

Imagine a deep pool of water (氵) that you can dive into, and the right side looks like a person jumping in from a high cliff. Think of "U-ahn" (sounds like "you are in") — you are in deep water.

Write the left radical 氵 with three dots: dot, dot, short upward stroke. Then the right part: first a short horizontal, then a left-falling stroke, then a vertical hook, and finally two strokes inside. Be careful not to make the right part too wide — keep it balanced with the left.

洁 (jié) has the same left radical but on the right is 吉 (auspicious), meaning "clean" or "pure". 洄 (huí) has a right part that means "return" or "whirlpool". 渊 has a unique right side that looks like a deep hollow, while the others have different right components entirely.

渊 appears in words like 深渊 (deep abyss) to describe a very deep chasm, and 渊博 (erudite) for someone with vast, deep knowledge. In Chinese philosophy, 渊 can symbolize depth of wisdom or danger, like in the idiom "如临深渊" — as if facing a deep abyss, meaning to be very cautious.

Common words containing 渊 include: 渊博 (yuān bó) — Erudite and profound.; 深渊 (shēn yuān) — abyss; chasm; 渊源 (yuān yuán) — Origin or source..