湛
fill, wear (a smile), clear, pure, dense, deep
Readings
On'yomi
- タン
- チン
- ジン
- セン
Kun'yomi
- しず.む
- たた.える
Nanori
- かん
- きよ
- たたう
- たたえ
- やす
Meaning
湛 centers on a state of being filled to the brim: a container filled with clear liquid, a face filled with a smile, or a quality that is dense and deep. The meanings of purity and clarity extend from the image of still, deep water.
Most common words using 湛
Study
Etymology
湛 combines 氵 (water) with 甚, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of deep or excessive. The character originally referred to deep, clear water, and later extended to filling and density.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 plus 甚 (excessive) suggests water that is excessively deep and clear, filling a container completely. Imagine a deep, pure lake that fills the landscape.
Reading mnemonic
For タン, picture a tan-colored liquid filling a deep tank: tan -> タン, and the tank is filled to the brim with clear, dense liquid.