lucidity, be clear, clear, clarify, settle, strain, look grave
澄 centers on clarity and stillness: a liquid becoming clear and settled, or a person's expression or mind becoming calm and serious. The ideas of straining, clarifying, and looking grave all stem from this core of making something pure and undisturbed.
澄 combines 氵 (water) with 登, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of rising or ascending, together suggesting water that has settled and become clear after disturbance.
Water 氵 plus 登 (climb, ascend) suggests sediment settling and clarity rising to the top. Picture a muddy stream where the dirt slowly sinks and the water becomes clear and calm.
For チョウ, imagine a clear, still pond where a long-serving chief named Chou gazes at his reflection: Chou -> チョウ, and the water is perfectly clear.
to become clear (water, air, etc.); to become transparent
clear; serene
primness; putting on airs; prim person
clear layer of fluid (at the top of a mixture); supernatant liquid; supernate
to sharpen; to grind; to whet; to hone; to make keen
primness; putting on airs; prim person
primly; with one's nose in the air; smugly
to affect a serene mood; to affect a serious demeanor; to act prudishly; to assume an air of superiority
to look unconcerned; to assume a composed look
lucid; clear
whirligig beetle (any insect of family Gyrinidae, esp. the Japanese whirligig beetle, Gyrinus japonicus)
clarifying agent; clarificant; clarifier; clearing agent; fining agent
clarified butter
a prim person
to put on airs; to affect (e.g. importance); to look wise
to clear; to make clear
perfectly clear
to be perfectly clear (water, air, etc.); to clear up
to be perfectly clear
limpid water