滑

Phono-semantic compound composed of:

水 (물 수) — semantic component, indicating water or fluidity.

骨 (뼈 골) — phonetic component, giving the sound huá and connoting firmness or structure.

Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「滑，行流利也。从水，骨聲。」

“滑 means to flow or move smoothly; composed of 水 (water) and 骨 (phonetic).”

This composition captures the image of fluid movement — water flowing over bones, or smooth motion over a solid base — giving rise to meanings like “slippery,” “slick,” and later “smooth-talking.”

Semantic development:

Literal: slippery, smooth (as of surfaces, ice, or water).

Figurative: smooth-tongued, witty, glib, or deceitfully clever.

Extended: harmonious or tactful (as in 圓滑, “smooth in relationships”).

The semantic evolution shows a shift from physical motion to verbal or social fluency.

滑走 (활주) — glide, slide (as in “활주로”, runway)

滑冰 (활빙) — ice-skating

滑雪 (활설) — skiing

滑稽 (골계) — humorous, comical

圓滑 (원활) — smooth, tactful

光滑 (광활) — glossy, smooth

滑潤 (활윤) — sleek, smooth and moist

滑頭 (활두) — sly person, trickster

In classical thought, 滑 could carry either positive or negative connotations depending on context.

Positive: flexibility, tact, skillfulness — the ability to adapt fluidly.

Negative: slipperiness, insincerity — cleverness without moral firmness.

《莊子·天地》 (Zhuangzi, Heaven and Earth):

「滑稽者，言辯而無實。」

“The glib speaker is fluent in words but lacks substance.”

Here, 滑稽 (골계) refers to clever or humorous speech, but also carries an undertone of superficial wit.

《韓非子·難言》 (Han Feizi, Difficult to Speak):

「辯者滑稽而飾非，忠者直言而見忌。」

“The eloquent speak smoothly and adorn falsehoods; the loyal speak frankly and incur resentment.”

Thus, 滑 embodies the paradox of smoothness — both a virtue of grace and a vice of cunning.

Symbolic interpretation:

滑 symbolizes fluid adaptability — the art of flowing around obstacles rather than breaking through them.

In Daoist imagery, water’s smooth movement is a model of natural harmony: yielding yet unstoppable.

《老子》 (Dao De Jing, Chapter 8):

「上善若水。水善利萬物而不爭。」

“The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things and does not contend.”

《莊子·天下篇》(Zhuangzi, Chapter 15):

「知者不滯於物，慧者不失於理。」

“The wise are not hindered by things; the intelligent do not lose sight of principle.”

《淮南子·主術訓》(Huainanzi, The Art of Mastery):

「智者之行，若水之流。」

“The conduct of the wise is like the flow of water.”

At the same time, 滑 warns against excessive cleverness — a reminder that smoothness without sincerity can lead to moral decline.

From 滑冰 (skating) to 滑稽 (humorous) and 圓滑 (tactful), the character bridges physical grace and mental agility.

It stands as a symbol of fluid strength, clever adaptability, and the dual nature of smoothness — grace or guile.