湍 (tuān): rapid (of a current)

Meanings

这里的水流非常湍急，要小心。

Zhèlǐ de shuǐliú fēicháng tuānjí, yào xiǎoxīn.

The water here flows very rapidly, so be careful.

急湍比飞箭还快。

Jí tuān bǐ fēi jiàn hái kuài.

The swift current was faster than a flying arrow.

usage

Most common in 湍急 (of a current, fast and rough). As a noun it can also mean the swift water itself, as in 急湍.

radical

氵 shuǐ

water

The water radical, a left-side form of 水. It marks this as a water word, here the rushing of a swift current.

phonetic

耑 duān

tip; sprout

Supplies the sound, 耑 shifting to tuān. It carries no meaning here; it is the phonetic part also seen in 端.

湍 tuān