深刻 (shēn kè) is an adjective meaning 'profound' or 'penetrating'—describing something that goes deep beneath the surface, whether in thought, feeling, impression, or effect. The first character 深 means 'deep' (physically or metaphorically), and 刻 means 'to engrave' or 'to carve', evoking the image of something deeply etched into the mind or heart. Together, they suggest an intensity and lasting impact—not just superficial but fundamentally resonant.

This word is commonly used to describe insights, memories, impressions, lessons, or emotions that leave a strong, enduring mark. It frequently appears in formal writing, speeches, and reflective contexts—for example, a 'profound lesson' (深刻教训), a 'deep impression' (深刻印象), or 'profound understanding' (深刻理解). While it can modify nouns directly (e.g., 深刻的思想), it’s rarely used predicatively without additional structure (e.g., not *他很深刻, but 他的观点很深刻).