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March 24, 2026
深奥(深奧)shēnào(shen1ao4)
深奥 (shēnào) refers to something that is profound, abstruse, or difficult to understand. It is often used in contexts discussing complex ideas, theories, or literature that require deep thought or insight to comprehend fully. This term conveys a sense of depth and complexity, indicating that the subject matter is not easily grasped by everyone.
Frequency#16832DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, works that are described as 深奥 often reflect traditional philosophical ideas, such as those found in Daoism and Confucianism, which emphasize deep understanding of life and existence. Such texts are revered and studied for their profound insights.
Memory Tip
Imagine diving deep into a dark ocean (深) where the mysteries (奥) of the universe lie hidden. The further you go, the more profound and complex the things you discover become. The sound 'shēn' in shēnào can remind you of the word 'deep' in English, while 'ào' sounds like 'owl', a wise creature often associated with deep knowledge.
Meanings of 深奥
shēnào(shen1ao4)
primary
1profound
2abstruse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 深奥
深奥Simplified
深奧Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#16832Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 深奥
Podcast: 深奥
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AI Study Notes for 深奥
Quick Contrast
深刻 (shēnkè) - use 深奥 when emphasizing complexity and difficulty of understanding, while 深刻 focuses more on depth of insight or significance.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine diving deep into a dark ocean (深) where the mysteries (奥) of the universe lie hidden. The further you go, the more profound and complex the things you discover become. The sound 'shēn' in shēnào can remind you of the word 'deep' in English, while 'ào' sounds like 'owl', a wise creature often associated with deep knowledge.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 深奥 with simpler terms like '深' (deep) or '复杂' (complex), as they don't carry the same intellectual weight. This word is more suitable for formal discussions, especially in academic or literary contexts. Common collocations include 深奥的道理 (profound principles) and 深奥的哲学 (profound philosophy).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 深奥 connects with other advanced vocabulary discussing abstract concepts. Students should focus on its usage in literature and philosophy, as it often appears in texts that analyze deep ideas or theories. Understanding its nuances will enhance reading comprehension skills for advanced texts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, works that are described as 深奥 often reflect traditional philosophical ideas, such as those found in Daoism and Confucianism, which emphasize deep understanding of life and existence. Such texts are revered and studied for their profound insights.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 深奥 to describe everyday situations, such as saying '这道菜的味道很深奥' (This dish's flavor is very profound), which is incorrect. Instead, it's better suited for discussing complex ideas or theories.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 深奥
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Grammar Patterns of 深奥
深奥 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这是一本____的书.
This is a deep book.
Example Sentences for 深奥 (4)
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1
这是一本深奥的书.
zhè shì yī běn shēn ào de shū.
This is a deep book.
2
他们的辩论太深奥,我搞不懂.
tā mén de biàn lùn tài shēn ào, , wǒ gǎo bù.
Their argument was too metaphysical for me to follow.
The old view of Galileo was delightfully uncomplicated.
4
有几个比较认真的同学嫌太深奥了点儿.
yǒu jī gè bǐ jiào rèn zhēn de tóng xué xián tài shēn ào le diǎn ér.
Some of the more devout boys thought it was a little strong.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
This is a deep book.
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Cultural Notes for 深奥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese literature, works that are described as 深奥 often reflect traditional philosophical ideas, such as those found in Daoism and Confucianism, which emphasize deep understanding of life and existence. Such texts are revered and studied for their profound insights.
Frequently Asked Questions about 深奥
You can say: '这部小说的主题非常深奥，值得反复阅读。' (The theme of this novel is very profound and worth reading multiple times.)
Yes, it can describe someone as having profound thoughts or insights, for example, '他是一个深奥的思想家。' (He is a profound thinker.)
Synonyms include 深刻 (shēnkè, deep) and 难懂 (nándǒng, difficult to understand).
