瀨 (lài) - Rapids, swift current & shoal, shallows

瀨Tone 4

lài ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

瀨 · lài

Rapids, swift current;

shoal, shallows;

a surname.

Rapids, swift currentshoal, shallowsa surname.

Usage highlights

RapidsShallowsStone rapidsSandy shoalSwift currentLai surname

Synonyms

  • 湍— rapids, swift current
  • 灘— shoal, rapid
  • 急流— swift current

Antonyms

  • 潭— deep pool
  • 淵— abyss, deep water

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The river has many rapids (急瀨).
  • Boats must navigate carefully through the shallows (淺瀨).
  • He comes from the Lai family (瀨姓).
  • The water flows swiftly over the stones (石上流瀨).

Collocations

  • Rapids(急瀨)
  • Shallows(淺瀨)
  • Stone rapids(石瀨)
  • Sandy shoal(沙瀨)
  • Swift current(迅瀨)
  • Lai surname(瀨姓)

Idioms

  • Stay by a stump waiting for more hares (守株待兔) - sometimes written with variants involving 瀨 in specific contexts
  • Rushing torrent and soaring waterfall(奔瀨飛瀑)
  • Clear stream and shallow rapids(清流淺瀨)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Common in Japanese place names and surnames (e.g., 瀨戶 - Seto, meaning strait).
  • Appears in classical Chinese poetry describing mountainous water scenery.
  • Used in some Chinese surnames, though relatively rare.

FAQ