潮 (cháo): tide; tidal

Meanings

Combines 氵(water) with 朝 (morning/dynasty) — the morning tide that comes in each day. Modern slang extends it to mean "trendy" like a wave.

Zhǎng cháo le, hǎishuǐ shànglái le.

The tide is coming in, the seawater is rising.

Qiángbì hěn cháo, xūyào chúshī.

The walls are damp, they need dehumidifying.

Tā chuān de yīfu hěn cháo.

His clothes are very trendy.

usage

In youth slang, 潮 means 'trendy/fashionable' — like 潮人 (trendy person), 潮牌 (trendy brand). This modern usage comes from 潮流 (trend).

潮 cháo