vast, cold

滄 is composed of the water radical 水 (water) and 倉 (warehouse). Since 倉 represents a warehouse where items gather and accumulate, 滄 conveys the idea of a vast body where vast amounts of water assemble—such as an ocean or a great lake. From the vast, deep nature of these waters, the character developed its meanings of being immense, expansive, or cold and bleak.