耽

A phono-semantic compound:

耳 (ear) — semantic component

冘 (to advance slowly; lingering) — phonetic component

Early interpretations associate 耽 with listening attentively for a long time, suggesting lingering attention. From this idea of attention that does not easily withdraw, the meaning developed into “to dwell on something with pleasure.”

Semantic development:

- to linger / delay

- to be absorbed

- to indulge excessively

This semantic path explains why 耽 often appears in moral or admonitory contexts in classical texts.

탐닉 (耽溺) — indulgence; dissipation

주색에 탐하다 (耽於酒色) — to indulge in drink and lust

독서에 탐하다 (耽讀) — to be absorbed in reading

쾌락에 탐하다 (耽樂) — to indulge in pleasure

Related characters

樂 — pleasure (neutral or positive enjoyment)

溺 — drown / overindulge (stronger sense of loss of control)

貪 — greed (desire-focused rather than pleasure-focused)

好 — to like (light, non-excessive enjoyment)

耽 often implies duration (lingering pleasure), not momentary enjoyment.

It is morally ambiguous but frequently used critically in Confucian and Buddhist texts.

In Buddhist usage, it is closely tied to attachment and craving.