潭 (tán) - Deep pool & deep water

潭Tone 2

tán ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

潭 · tán

Deep pool;

deep water;

abyss;

also used in place names.

Deep pooldeep waterabyss

Usage highlights

Deep poolDragon poolBlack Dragon PoolPond waterTanxiTanzhou

Synonyms

  • 池— pond; pool (generally shallower)
  • 塘— pond; pool (often man-made)
  • 渊— deep pool; abyss

Antonyms

  • 丘— hill; mound (elevation vs. depression)
  • 山— mountain (high land vs. low water)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dragon dwells in the deep pool (龙潭).
  • We visited the Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭) in Beijing.
  • The water in the pond is very clear (潭水清澈).
  • This is a famous scenic spot (潭景).

Collocations

  • Deep pool(深潭)
  • Dragon pool(龙潭)
  • Black Dragon Pool(黑龙潭)
  • Pond water(潭水)
  • Tanxi(潭溪)
  • Tanzhou(潭州)

Idioms

  • As unfathomable as an abyss(潭深莫测)
  • Plum Blossom by the Lone Mountain Deep Pool(孤山潭影梅花)
  • A dragon hidden in the deep pool(潜龙在潭)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often appears in place names, especially for locations with deep water features.
  • In literature and poetry, '潭' symbolizes depth, mystery, and sometimes danger.
  • Associated with dragons in Chinese mythology, as dragons were believed to dwell in deep pools.

FAQ