溶

A phono-semantic compound consisting of:

水 (water) — semantic component, indicates a process occurring in liquid;

容 — phonetic component supplying the sound (용 / róng).

The character originally described substances dissolving into liquid.

용해 (溶解) — dissolution

용액 (溶液) — solution (chemistry)

용융 (溶融) — melting and dissolving

These terms are widely used in chemistry and materials science.

溶 specifically emphasizes dissolution within liquid. Commonly used in chemistry and physics terminology. It represents a key scientific concept of solubility and solution formation.

Related characters:

熔 — to melt

解 — to dissolve or separate

液 — liquid

水 — water

In Korean and Chinese terminology, 溶 is distinguished from similar characters:

溶 — dissolve in liquid (like sugar in water);

熔 / 鎔 — melt by heat (like metal melting).

In English terms:

溶 ≈ dissolve

熔 / 鎔 ≈ melt

However, Japanese often uses 溶 for both meanings.