unknown, 12 strokes, radical 攵, rank #12871, Very Hard
dūn(dun1) T1
1honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem
2place name
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
敦(㪟)dūn(dun1)
The character 敦 (dūn) conveys a sense of honesty, sincerity, and kindness. It is often used to describe individuals who are straightforward and trustworthy, and it can also relate to the esteem given to someone or something. In addition, it appears as a variant in personal names and place names, reflecting a cultural emphasis on moral integrity.
Strokes12Radical攵Frequency#12871DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 敦 represents not only personal virtues but also societal values, reflecting the importance of honesty and integrity in relationships and business. It is often used in contexts that celebrate traditional virtues.
Memory Tip
Imagine a kind-hearted person (敦) standing on a 'dune' (sounds like 'dūn') of sand, sharing honest stories with everyone around them. The character's form, with the radical for 'earth' (土), suggests a grounded, sincere nature.
Meanings of 敦
dūn(dun1)
1honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem
2place name
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 敦
敦Simplified
㪟Traditional
12Strokes
攵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 敦
Podcast: 敦
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 敦
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 敦, as it is pronounced with a high level tone (dūn). It's common to see this character used in formal contexts, such as in literature or when discussing virtues. A common collocation is 敦厚 (dūnhòu), meaning 'kind-hearted' or 'generous.'
HSK Study Tips
While 敦 is not currently categorized in the HSK levels, it may be beneficial for learners at HSK 4 or 5 to recognize this character as it embodies complex moral qualities. Students should focus on its nuances and usage in context, especially in literature and idiomatic expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 敦 with similar-sounding characters like '顿' (dùn), which means 'to pause' or 'to stop.' Remember, 敦 focuses on sincerity and kindness, while '顿' refers to a momentary halt.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敦
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 敦 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 享 represents the meaning and 攵 represents the sound. Simplified form of 㪟.
1The meaning half享 carries the sense.
2The sound half攵 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayshare
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 敦? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 敦?
Decomposition of 敦
IDS Structure⿰享攵
敦Full Character
=
享xiang3
left
攵pu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 敦?
How to say honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem in Chinese
“honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem” in Chinese is敦dūn
The character 敦 (dūn) conveys a sense of honesty, sincerity, and kindness. It is often used to describe individuals who are straightforward and trustworthy, and it can also relate to the esteem given to someone or something. In addition, it appears as a variant in personal names and place names, reflecting a cultural emphasis on moral integrity.
When to use 敦
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 敦, as it is pronounced with a high level tone (dūn). It's common to see this character used in formal contexts, such as in literature or when discussing virtues. A common collocation is 敦厚 (dūnhòu), meaning 'kind-hearted' or 'generous.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 敦 with similar-sounding characters like '顿' (dùn), which means 'to pause' or 'to stop.' Remember, 敦 focuses on sincerity and kindness, while '顿' refers to a momentary halt.
Write 敦
敦
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 敦 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 敦
敦 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). It carries 2 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
他们依然很熟悉伦____市郊的喧闹声。
Their ears were still attuned to the sounds of the London suburb.
Example Sentences for 敦 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们依然很熟悉伦敦市郊的喧闹声。
tā mén yī rán hěn shú xī lún dūn shì jiāo de xuān nào shēng。
Their ears were still attuned to the sounds of the London suburb.
2
休斯敦被选作大会的会址。
xiū sī dūn bèi xuǎn zuò dà huì de huì zhǐ。
Houston was chosen as the site for the convention.
3
类似劳埃德保险公司的那些丑闻令伦敦名声扫地。
lèi sì láo āi dé bǎo xiǎn gōng sī de nà xiē chǒu wén líng lún dūn míng shēng sǎo dì。
The City's reputation has been sullied by scandals like those at Lloyd's.
4
斯特兰德街是伦敦最繁华、最富足的街道之一。
sī tè lán dé jiē shì lún dūn zuì fán huá、 、 zuì fù zú de jiē dào zhī。
The Strand is one of London's busiest and most affluent streets.
5
她是伦敦著名的“薄荷犀牛”夜总会的钢管舞舞者。
tā shì lún dūn zhù míng de“ “ báo hé xī” niú ” yè zǒng huì de gāng guǎn wǔ。
She is a pole dancer at London's famous Spearmint Rhino club.
6
在我生长的伦敦，四周全是轰炸后的断壁残垣。
zài wǒ shēng cháng de lún dūn， ， sì zhōu quán shì hōng zhà hòu de duàn bì cán。
In London, where I grew up, we were surrounded by bomb sites.
