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March 24, 2026
深刻shēnkè(shen1ke4)
深刻 (shēn kè) means profound or deeply insightful. It is often used to describe thoughts, feelings, or analyses that go beyond the surface, indicating a significant depth of understanding or impact in various contexts, such as literature, philosophy, or personal experiences.
Frequency#2729DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 深刻 is often associated with traditional philosophical teachings, such as Confucianism, which emphasizes deep understanding of moral principles and human relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a deep well (深) that holds profound secrets (刻) at its bottom. The depth of the well represents the concept of profundity, and the act of carving (刻) into its sides symbolizes the deep insights we uncover.
Meanings of 深刻
shēnkè(shen1ke4)
1profound
2deep
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About 深刻
深刻Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#2729Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 深刻
Podcast: 深刻
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AI Study Notes for 深刻
Quick Contrast
深 (shēn) vs 深奥 (shēn ào) — use 深刻 for impactful insights, while 深奥 emphasizes complexity and obscurity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a deep well (深) that holds profound secrets (刻) at its bottom. The depth of the well represents the concept of profundity, and the act of carving (刻) into its sides symbolizes the deep insights we uncover.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 深刻 with other similar terms like 深 (deep) or 刻 (to carve), which do not carry the same abstract meaning of profundity. This word is more formal and often used in literary or academic contexts, so it might not be suitable for casual conversations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 深刻 connects with other abstract and descriptive terms that express depth and insight. Students should focus on using it in conjunction with phrases that elaborate on ideas or feelings to enhance their expressive capabilities.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 深刻 is often associated with traditional philosophical teachings, such as Confucianism, which emphasizes deep understanding of moral principles and human relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 深刻 with superficial terms, using it incorrectly in casual contexts. For instance, saying '这部电影很深刻' (This movie is very deep) can be appropriate, but saying '这道菜很深刻' (This dish is very profound) is incorrect; instead, use '好吃' (delicious) for food.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 深刻
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Grammar Patterns of 深刻
深刻 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Overcooked greens are my most vivid recollection of school dinners.
8
这场病对他的人生观产生了深刻的影响。
zhè cháng bìng duì tā de rén shēng guān chǎn shēng le shēn kè de yǐng xiǎng。
The illness had a profound effect on his outlook.
9
她和哈里恋爱的各阶段写得非常细腻深刻。
tā hé hā lǐ liàn ài de gè jiē duàn xiě dé fēi cháng xì nì shēn kè。
The stages in her love affair with Harry are perceptively written.
10
许多文人只是机械地模仿一套听上去令人印象深刻的说法。
xǔ duō wén rén zhī shì jī xiè dì mó fǎng yī tào tīng shàng qù líng rén yìn xiàng shēn kè de shuō fǎ。
Many literary academics simply parrot a set of impressive-sounding phrases.
Cultural Notes for 深刻
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 深刻 is often associated with traditional philosophical teachings, such as Confucianism, which emphasizes deep understanding of moral principles and human relationships.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, 'profound' may be used more casually, whereas in Chinese, 深刻 carries a weight of seriousness and intellectual depth that may imply a more thoughtful consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions about 深刻
Yes, you can use 深刻 to describe someone who has a deep and insightful personality or perspective.
Generally, 深刻 has a positive connotation, implying valuable depth in thoughts or insights.
For example, you can say '他的观点很深刻' (His viewpoint is very profound) to express the depth of someone's opinion.
