unknown, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #26056, Very Hard
掸
dǎn
to dust off
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #26056, Very Hard
掸
dǎn
brush
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #26056, Very Hard
掸
dǎn
duster
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #26056, Very Hard
dǎn(dan3) T3
1to dust; a duster
2to brush away
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
掸(撣)dǎn(dan3)
The character 掸 (dǎn) primarily means 'to dust' or 'to brush away.' It is commonly used in contexts where one is cleaning surfaces by removing dust, such as furniture or shelves. The verb can also imply a gentle motion of brushing something off, emphasizing the action of tidying or cleaning.
Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#26056DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese households, dusting is a common practice, especially during major cleaning events like 春节 (Chūnjié, Spring Festival), when families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Memory Tip
Picture a 'duster' in your hand, making a sweeping motion to 'dust' off the top of a table. The character 掸 can be visualized by combining the hand radical 手 (shǒu), representing action, with the components that suggest brushing or sweeping, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 掸
dǎn(dan3)
1to dust; a duster
2to brush away
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 掸
掸Simplified
撣Traditional
11Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
把Measure Word
Podcast: 掸
Podcast: 掸
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 掸
Quick Contrast
拂 (fú) — use 掸 (dǎn) for a more gentle, dusting action, while 拂 (fú) often implies a sweeping or brushing motion with a broader context.
Memory Mnemonic
Picture a 'duster' in your hand, making a sweeping motion to 'dust' off the top of a table. The character 掸 can be visualized by combining the hand radical 手 (shǒu), representing action, with the components that suggest brushing or sweeping, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with tones; 掸 is pronounced with a third tone (dǎn). It is used more in informal contexts, so in formal writing, consider alternatives like 清洁 (qīngjié) for 'clean.' Common collocations include 掸灰尘 (dǎn huīchén), meaning 'to dust off dust.'
HSK Study Tips
While 掸 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to verbs related to cleaning at similar levels. Focus on the action of cleaning, as it relates to other verbs like 清 (qīng, to clean) and 洗 (xǐ, to wash) to build a broader vocabulary around household chores.
Cultural Note
In Chinese households, dusting is a common practice, especially during major cleaning events like 春节 (Chūnjié, Spring Festival), when families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 掸 with the similar-sounding verb 改 (gǎi, to change). For example, saying '我需要改桌子' (Wǒ xūyào gǎi zhuōzi) instead of '我需要掸桌子' is incorrect. The correct phrase emphasizes dusting rather than changing the table.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 掸
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 掸 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 掸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 掸
掸 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. 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
他起身____去了衣服上的灰尘并将信折起来收好。
He stood and dusted down his suit and folded the letter away.
Example Sentences for 掸 (3)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他起身掸去了衣服上的灰尘并将信折起来收好。
tā qǐ shēn dǎn qù le yī fú shàng de huī chén bìng jiāng xìn zhē qǐ lái shōu hǎo。
He stood and dusted down his suit and folded the letter away.
2
她叹了一口气，然后用洗碗布轻掸着柜台。
tā tàn le yī kǒu qì， ， rán hòu yòng xǐ wǎn bù qīng dǎn zháo guì。
She sighed and flicked a dishcloth at the counter.
3
他用大衣袖子把碎屑掸掉。
tā yòng dà yī xiù zǐ bǎ suì xiè dǎn diào。
He cleaned the flakes away with his coat sleeve.
Cultural Notes for 掸
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese households, dusting is a common practice, especially during major cleaning events like 春节 (Chūnjié, Spring Festival), when families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Word Family of 掸
Words Containing This Character2
掸dǎnbrush撣
掸子duster撣子
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 掸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 掸
You can say '我需要掸桌子上的灰尘' (Wǒ xūyào dǎn zhuōzi shàng de huīchén), meaning 'I need to dust the dust off the table.'
No, 掸 is generally used in informal contexts. In formal writing, you might want to use 清洁 instead.
Synonyms include 清理 (qīnglǐ, to clean up) and 拂 (fú, to brush off), but they may have slightly different contexts.
