Meaning of 深刻
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- profound
- deep
- deep-going
How to use 深刻
深刻 describes abstract things like impressions, lessons, understanding, or changes, not physical depth. It often pairs with 印象 (yìnxiàng), 教训 (jiàoxùn), and 理解 (lǐjiě). Example: 这本书给我留下了深刻的印象。(Zhè běn shū gěi wǒ liú xià le shēnkè de yìnxiàng.) This book left a deep impression on me.
深 (shēn) means deep, and 刻 (kè) means to carve. Something 深刻 is carved deep, so it stays with you, like a lesson or impression cut into your memory.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes use 深刻 for physical depth, as in a deep river, but that needs plain 深 (shēn): 这条河很深. Also, 刻 here is kè (fourth tone), the same as in 立刻 (lìkè), not kě.
深刻 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
深 shēn · deep · 11 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
刻 kè · quarter · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 深刻.
| 立刻 | lìkè | immediately; at once; right away |
| 时刻 | shíkè | time; juncture |
| 深入 | shēnrù | to penetrate deeply; thorough |
| 深厚 | shēnhòu | deep; profound |
| 此刻 | cǐkè | this moment; now |
| 深处 | shēnchù | abyss; depths |
| 深度 | shēndù | depth; (of a speech etc) profundity |
| 深深 | shēnshēn | deep; profound |
| 深化 | shēnhuà | to deepen; to intensify |
| 深夜 | shēnyè | very late at night |
| 刻意 | kèyì | intentionally; deliberately; purposely; painstakingly; meticulously |
| 雕刻 | diāokè | to carve; to engrave |
Questions about 深刻
What does 深刻 mean?
深刻 (shēnkè) means "profound; deep" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 深刻?
深刻 is made of 2 characters: 深 (11 strokes), 刻 (8 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 深刻 an HSK word?
Yes. 深刻 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 深刻 and 深入?
深刻 describes the quality of something, such as a profound impression or insight. 深入 (shēnrù) is about going deep into a topic or place, as in 深入研究 (to research in depth). You can say 深入了解 but usually 深刻的理解 when describing the result.
Can 深刻 be used to describe a person?
Not usually for the person directly. You would describe their thoughts or words instead, for example 他的想法很深刻 (His ideas are profound). Saying 他很深刻 sounds odd to most native speakers.