submerge, conceal, hide, lower (voice), hush
潜 centers on going beneath a surface or out of sight: submerging in water, hiding oneself, concealing something, or lowering one's voice to a hush.
潜 combines 氵 (water) with 替, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of replacing or changing, suggesting going under water or into hiding.
Water 氵 plus 替 (replace/change): imagine replacing your visible self with a hidden version by slipping underwater, concealing your presence.
For セン, picture a submarine silently submerging: the 'sen' in submarine cues セン, and the submarine hides beneath the waves.
potentiality; dormancy; latency
diving; submerging; going underwater
infiltration; sneaking in; going undercover
to lurk; to be hidden; to be concealed; to lie dormant; to be latent
to go under; to pass under; to go through; to pass through
concealment; hiding; ambush
diving; diver
to hide; to conceal
side door; side gate; wicket gate
submarine voyage; underwater navigation
nuclear submarine
to dive (into or under water)
periscope
to slip into; to crawl into (under); to conceal oneself (under)
underwater navigation
hydroplane (submarines); diving plane; diving rudder
Oyashio class submarine
to quieten down; to fall silent
Harushio class submarine
multilevel diving