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March 24, 2026
丹dān(dan1)
The character '丹' (dān) primarily refers to cinnabar, a bright red mineral used historically in Chinese art and traditional medicine. It signifies not only the color red but also can denote powdered forms or pellets of substances, often associated with alchemical practices or medicinal uses.
Strokes4Radical丶Frequency#2290DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
'丹' is often found in traditional Chinese medicine and Feng Shui, where it symbolizes health, vitality, and auspiciousness. The color red is considered lucky and is prominently featured during festivals like Chinese New Year.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bright red dragon (the color red is expressed by '丹') holding a small, shiny pellet of cinnabar. The shape of the character resembles a depiction of a dragon's tail curling around a red gem, reminding you of its meaning and sound.
Meanings of 丹
dān(dan1)
1cinnabar, red, vermilion; pellet, powder
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 丹
丹Simplified
4Strokes
丶Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
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Podcast: 丹
Podcast: 丹
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AI Study Notes for 丹
Quick Contrast
朱 (zhū) - use 朱 for a brighter, more vivid shade of red often associated with vermilion, while 丹 implies a darker, more subdued red often linked to historical and medicinal contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bright red dragon (the color red is expressed by '丹') holding a small, shiny pellet of cinnabar. The shape of the character resembles a depiction of a dragon's tail curling around a red gem, reminding you of its meaning and sound.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the pronunciation as the tone is crucial; mispronouncing 'dān' could lead to confusion with other characters. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as traditional medicine or art descriptions, and commonly appears in phrases related to color or substance.
HSK Study Tips
While '丹' is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial to connect it with HSK Level 2 words related to colors and materials. Focus on recognizing its use in phrases and its associations with traditional practices to enhance vocabulary retention.
Cultural Note
'丹' is often found in traditional Chinese medicine and Feng Shui, where it symbolizes health, vitality, and auspiciousness. The color red is considered lucky and is prominently featured during festivals like Chinese New Year.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '丹' with '单' (dān), which means 'single' or 'individual'. Be careful to distinguish between the tones and context; for example, '我买了单' (I bought single) is incorrect if you mean to refer to 'cinnabar.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 丹
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Grammar Patterns of 丹
丹 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
15岁的____尼从地方当局的收容所逃跑了。
Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.
Example Sentences for 丹 (10)
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1
15岁的丹尼从地方当局的收容所逃跑了。
15 15 suì de dān ní cóng dì fāng dāng jú de shōu róng suǒ táo pǎo。
Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.
2
一架带有丹麦标记的飞机从他的船上空飞过。
yī jià dài yǒu dān mài biāo jì de fēi jī cóng tā de chuán shàng kōng fēi guò。
A plane with Danish markings was over-flying his vessel.
3
他在阿姆斯特丹的记者招待会上发表了意见。
tā zài ā mǔ sī tè dān de jì zhě zhāo dài huì shàng fā biǎo le yì jiàn。
He made his comments at a news conference in Amsterdam.
If Daniel asks what happened in court we will tell him.
Cultural Notes for 丹
🏮Cultural insight
'丹' is often found in traditional Chinese medicine and Feng Shui, where it symbolizes health, vitality, and auspiciousness. The color red is considered lucky and is prominently featured during festivals like Chinese New Year.
Word Family of 丹
Words Containing This Character20
丹dānred
丹尼Danny (name)
丹麦Denmark丹麥
苏丹Sudan蘇丹
丹尼斯Dennis (name)
丹尼尔Daniel (name)丹尼爾
乔丹Jordan (name)喬丹
牡丹mǔdanMudan District of Heze City 菏澤市|菏泽市[HézéShì], Shandong
阿姆斯特丹Amsterdam, capital of Netherlands
丹佛Denver, Colorado
丹参Salvia miltiorrhiza丹參
契丹Qidan or Khitan, ethnic group in ancient China, a branch of the Eastern Hu people inhabiting the valley of the Xar Murun River in the upper reaches of the Liao River 遼河|辽河[LiáoHé]
摩根士丹利Morgan Stanley (financial services company)
丹田pubic region
丹东Dandong prefecture-level city in Liaoning province 遼寧省|辽宁省 in northeast China丹東
炼丹to concoct pills of immortality煉丹
丹阳Danyang county level city in Zhenjiang 鎮江|镇江[Zhènjiāng], Jiangsu丹陽
于丹Yu Dan (1965-), female scholar, writer, educator and TV presenter
牡丹江Mudanjiang prefecture level city in Heilongjiang province 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hēilóngjiāng] in northeast China
张丹Zhang Dan (1985-), Chinese figure skater張丹
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 丹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 丹
'丹' can also refer to the color red in a broader sense, as well as to pellets or powders used in various contexts, particularly in traditional medicine.
You can say '这块丹砂是用来做药的' (This piece of cinnabar is used to make medicine).
'丹' is less common in everyday conversation but is still significant in specific contexts like traditional medicine or art.
