Definition
深浅 literally means 'depth and shallowness', but as a noun it extends to three related abstract senses: the actual depth of water or a hole, the degree or seriousness of a situation (such as a problem or relationship), and—in fixed expressions like 不知深浅—the understanding of someone's true character or the limits of a situation. It often appears in negative constructions to describe someone who doesn't know their place or acts recklessly.
n.
(literal) depth (of water, hole, etc.)degreeseriousness (of a matter or relationship)limitstrue charactersituation (in phrases like 不知深浅)
Examples
- 深浅？Zhè tiáo hé de shēn qiǎn nǐ zhīdao shì duōshao ma?Do you know how deep this river is?
- 深浅。Tā duì zhè jiàn shì de shēn qiǎn bú tài liǎojiě.He doesn't quite understand the seriousness of this matter.
- 深浅，。Tā zuò shì bù zhī shēn qiǎn, zǒng shì gěi zìjǐ rě máfan.He acts without knowing the limits, always causing trouble for himself.
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