澱
sediment, grounds, dregs, stagnant
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- デン
- テン
Kun'yomi
- おり
- ど.ろ
- よど.み
- よど.む
Meaning
澱 centers on the heavy residue that settles at the bottom of a liquid: sediment, dregs, or grounds. The stagnant sense extends naturally from the idea of still, murky water where such sediment accumulates.
Most common words using 澱
Study
Etymology
澱 combines 氵 (water) with 殿, which likely contributes the sound デン and carries a sense of settling or a base. The character expresses sediment settling in water.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 beside a grand hall 殿: picture a stagnant pool in the courtyard of an old hall, with sediment and dregs slowly settling to the bottom.
Reading mnemonic
For デン, imagine a den of stagnant water under the hall: den -> デン, and the murky den is full of sediment.