淊 (yān) - To overflow & to flood

淊Tone 1

yān ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

淊 · yān

To overflow;

to flood;

to inundate;

to be submerged or covered by water.

To overflowto floodto inundate

Usage highlights

overflow and floodsubmerge and inundateflood disasteroverflowing waterflooded fieldsinundated area

Synonyms

  • 淹— to flood; to submerge
  • 浸— to soak; to immerse
  • 泛滥— to overflow; to flood

Antonyms

  • 干— dry
  • 涸— dried up; parched
  • 旱— drought

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The river overflowed its banks (河水淊堤).
  • The basement was flooded (地下室被水淊了).
  • The fields were inundated after the heavy rain (大雨后田地淊没).
  • The boat was submerged by the waves (小船被波浪淊没).

Collocations

  • overflow and flood(淊滥)
  • submerge and inundate(淊没)
  • flood disaster(淊灾)
  • overflowing water(淊水)
  • flooded fields(淊田)
  • inundated area(淊区)

Idioms

  • Flooding and overflowing without restraint(淊滥成灾)
  • Completely submerged and lost(淊没无闻)
  • Overflowing like a great flood(浩浩淊淊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character depicts water overflowing or submerging, reflecting concerns about flood control in agricultural societies.
  • In classical texts, it often describes overwhelming natural forces or situations that are difficult to control.
  • The character carries connotations of both destructive power and natural abundance depending on context.

FAQ