浸 jìn to dip
to dip; to immerse; to soak; to steep
How to remember 浸: 氵 water + 𠬶 broom in hand = to dip. The janitor fills a bucket with soapy water, then, broom in hand, bends down to dip the bristles into it.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 水 + 𡩠
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
浸 = 氵 water + 𠬶 broom in hand
- 氵 water meaning
- 𠬶 broom in hand shape only
The janitor fills a bucket with soapy water, then, broom in hand, bends down to dip the bristles into it.
How it came to be
Water gives the meaning, and the other part comes from an older sign that gave the sound.
How it is used
- To immerse/soak: 浸泡 (jìnpào) to steep/soak, 浸水 (jìn shuǐ) to be waterlogged.
- 沉浸 (chénjìn) is figurative: to be immersed/absorbed in: 沉浸在音乐中 (chénjìn zài yīnyuè zhōng) lost in the music.