淺 (shallow)

淺 means “shallow”; the surrounding word supplies its shade.

With water or a place, it describes small depth. In words about knowledge or judgment, it can mean “superficial” or “not profound.” It also describes a pale color, a small amount, a short time, or an explanation made easy to understand.

Bronze inscriptions preserve early forms of 淺, with later examples on bamboo and silk manuscripts. The Shuowen, an early Chinese character dictionary, glosses it as “not deep”: 水 points to water, while 戔 supplies the sound. An older bronze use borrowed the sound for the personal name 勾淺, corresponding to 勾踐.

Does 淺 mean shallow or superficial?

It can mean either; the word around it decides.

With 深, 水, or a place, it describes depth or extent. In 膚淺 and 淺薄, it criticizes an idea, person, or understanding as lacking depth.

If someone sends 淺 by itself, ask for the surrounding word before guessing what they mean.

Is 淺 the traditional form of 浅?

淺 and 浅 are traditional and simplified forms of one character.

As of 2026, traditional Chinese writing in Taiwan and Hong Kong uses 淺; simplified Chinese writing uses 浅. The form changes, but the character’s meaning does not.

In Japanese, 淺 is the historical form corresponding to modern 浅. Korean Hanja records the character with the reading 천.