含

Core sense is retention.

1. Physical: To hold substances or objects in the mouth.

2. Psychological/Internalized: To harbor, suppress, or withhold (specifically regarding speech or emotions). This implies a tension between the presence of the feeling and its lack of expression.

3. Abstract: To contain, comprise, or include; often carries a nuance of being held within a boundary rather than mere mathematical inclusion.

Primarily functions as a transitive verb. It can also describe a state of latent presence (e.g., a bud "containing" a flower), bridging the gap between physical holding and abstract containment.

Contrast with 涵: 含 denotes the containment of a discrete object that remains distinct from its container; 涵 denotes saturation, immersion, or soaking where boundaries are fluid and the object is absorbed into the medium.

Tang-period reading *hom; Fanqie reading 胡男. Variant U+5505 exists as a graphical variation reflecting scribal habits without altering the lexical range.