漩 (xuán): whirlpool; eddy; swirling curre…

Meanings

这里的河里有危险的漩涡。

Zhèlǐ de hélǐ yǒu wēixiǎn de xuánwō.

There is a dangerous whirlpool in the river here.

小船被卷进了漩涡。

Xiǎochuán bèi juǎnjìn le xuánwō.

The little boat was sucked into the whirlpool.

usage

Mostly used in 漩涡 (whirlpool), which can be a literal water eddy or, figuratively, getting drawn into a troublesome situation.

radical

氵 shuǐ

water

The three-drop water radical (left-side form of 水) anchors the meaning: 漩 is specifically swirling, circling water.

phonetic

旋 xuán

to revolve; rotate

Supplies the reading xuán and the sense of spinning; the rotating motion of 旋 is exactly what makes the water a whirlpool.

漩 xuán