| yān | drown/submerge |
| 淹 | to flood to submerge to drown |
| 淹久异邦 | to be long delayed in a foreign country |
| 淹博 | widely read erudite |
| 淹博学问 | to be deep and wide in learning; to have a wide knowledge |
| 淹埋 | flow or blow over and cover completely |
| 淹死 | to drown |
| 淹水 | a flood |
| 淹没 | to submerge to drown to flood |
| 淹灌 | basin irrigation (e.g. paddy fields) |
| 淹灭 | to submerge to flood to bury |
| 淹留 | to stay for a long period |
| 淹盖 | to submerge to flood to drown out |
| 淹蹇 | be frustrated; delay; hold up |
| 淹雅之士 | a deeply cultured and refined scholar |
| 淹雅华美 | cultured and beautiful |