チン, ジン, しず.む, しず.める, しん

sink, be submerged, subside, be depressed, aloes

JLPT2 G7 S7 F1271

The relevant oracle bone form of shows that it originally combined river and cow → drive cattle across a river, their bodies sinking in being largely submerged. A bronzeware inscription form alters the character by showing a person weighed down by a heavy bar across the shoulders → slump; sink. is # + water → sinking person/object (compare ) → *sink*; *immerse*; *submerge* → *go down*; *set*; *be mired in*.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]