Writers employ "shallow" in a surprisingly diverse range of contexts, using it to evoke both literal and figurative meanings. In descriptions of nature and settings, it vividly portrays physical shallowness—whether it is the brief depth of a body of water near a shore ([1], [2], [3]), the narrowness of a bay setting the stage for dramatic action ([4], [5]), or even a culinary technique indicating minimal depth in cookware ([6], [7]). At the same time, “shallow” frequently unfolds as a metaphor for superficiality or a lack of intellectual depth. Characters are critiqued for their short-sighted views ([8], [9], [10]), and even the human soul is depicted as a film on shallow water, hinting at its ephemeral quality ([11]). In some instances, the term serves as both a descriptive and a satirical device, such as when a character’s name underscores a perceived lack of substance or when irony is employed to stress shallow wit ([12], [13], [14], [15]). This nuanced word thus enriches narrative and poetic language by simultaneously grounding scenes in clear physical imagery and probing the intricacies of human character and thought.