暢

A compound ideograph:

申 (거듭 신) — to extend; to stretch; repeated extension

昜 (볕 양) — sunlight; warmth; brightness

Together, they convey the idea of light and warmth spreading outward without obstruction, which naturally led to meanings such as clear, open, smooth, and free-flowing.

The structure emphasizes expansion and circulation, both physical and abstract.

暢 appears mainly in literary, descriptive, and formal contexts, often characterizing atmosphere, movement, or expression.

화창 (和暢) — bright and pleasant (weather or mood)

창쾌 (暢快) — refreshing; exhilarating

소통창활 (疏通暢活) — free and smooth circulation

의사표현이 창하다 (意思表現暢하다) — expression flows freely

Classical / stylistic usage:

창달 (暢達) — to communicate smoothly; to make clear

창서 (暢敍) — to narrate freely

Unlike 通 (to pass through) which stresses passage, 暢 highlights comfort and ease in that passage.

Related characters (openness & flow):

通 — to pass through; communicate

達 — to reach; attain

舒 — to relax; stretch out

和 — harmony; gentle

明 — bright; clear

Among these, 暢 uniquely combines physical circulation with emotional comfort, making it especially suited for describing pleasant clarity rather than mere transmission.

Historical Korean gloss:

In 《釋譜詳節》 (Detailed Explanation of the Musical Score), 暢 is glossed as:

「暢ᄋᆞᆫ 시원ᄒᆞᆯ씨오」

“暢 means ‘cool / refreshing’.”

This shows that in early Korean interpretation, 暢 emphasized bodily and emotional ease, not merely brightness.