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旦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
旦
dàn
dawn
j, 5 strokes, radical 日, rank #20352, Very Hard
旦
dàn
morning
j, 5 strokes, radical 日, rank #20352, Very Hard
旦
dàn
day-break
j, 5 strokes, radical 日, rank #20352, Very Hard
旦
dàn
day
j, 5 strokes, radical 日, rank #20352, Very Hard
旦
dàn
daybreak
unknown, 5 strokes, radical 日, rank #20352, Very Hard
旦
dàn
dan, female roles in Chinese opera (traditionally played by specialized male actors)
unknown, 5 strokes, radical 日, rank #20352, Very Hard
dàn(dan4)dan T4
1dawn
2morning
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March 24, 2026
旦dàn(dan4)
The character 旦 (dàn) primarily means 'dawn' or 'daybreak,' signifying the early part of the day when light first appears. It can also refer to 'morning' or 'day' in broader contexts. Additionally, in traditional Chinese opera, it denotes female roles, which are typically performed by male actors specializing in these characters.
Strokes5Radical日Frequency#20352DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
The character 旦 is often associated with traditional Chinese festivals that celebrate the arrival of spring, emphasizing new beginnings. In Chinese opera, the portrayal of female roles by male actors is a long-standing tradition that reflects historical gender norms in performance art.
Memory tip
Imagine the sun rising at dawn, illuminating a new day, represented by the character 旦. The left part '日' (rì) symbolizes the sun, and the right part '旦' suggests the arrival of light. Picture a male actor dressed as a woman, showcasing the duality of the character.
Meanings of 旦
dàn(dan4)
1dawn
2morning
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 旦
旦Simplified
5Strokes
日Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#20352Frequency Rank
Podcast: 旦
Podcast: 旦
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AI study notes for 旦
Quick Contrast
晨 (chén) vs 早 (zǎo) — use 旦 (dàn) for a more poetic or formal sense of 'dawn' compared to the more general 'morning' or 'early' connotations of 晨 and 早.
Usage Notes
While using 旦, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar characters like 昂 (áng). In more formal settings, it’s often used in literature or poetry to evoke imagery of morning. Common collocations include 旦时 (dàn shí - at dawn) and 旦夕 (dàn xī - day and night).
HSK Study Tips
Although not included in the HSK levels, 旦 can be beneficial for learners looking to expand their vocabulary related to time and daily life. Focus on its uses in poetry and traditional stories to understand its cultural significance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 旦 with similar characters like 旦 and 日 (rì). It's important to remember that 旦 specifically relates to dawn and morning, while 日 means 'sun' or 'day.' A common mistake is saying 早上 (zǎoshang - morning) when trying to refer to 'dawn,' which should use 旦.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 旦
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The character 旦 (dàn) primarily means 'dawn' or 'daybreak,' signifying the early part of the day when light first appears. It can also refer to 'morning' or 'day' in broader contexts. Additionally, in traditional Chinese opera, it denotes female roles, which are typically performed by male actors specializing in these characters.
When to use 旦
While using 旦, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar characters like 昂 (áng). In more formal settings, it’s often used in literature or poetry to evoke imagery of morning. Common collocations include 旦时 (dàn shí - at dawn) and 旦夕 (dàn xī - day and night).
旦 or something close to it
晨 (chén) vs 早 (zǎo) — use 旦 (dàn) for a more poetic or formal sense of 'dawn' compared to the more general 'morning' or 'early' connotations of 晨 and 早.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 旦 with similar characters like 旦 and 日 (rì). It's important to remember that 旦 specifically relates to dawn and morning, while 日 means 'sun' or 'day.' A common mistake is saying 早上 (zǎoshang - morning) when trying to refer to 'dawn,' which should use 旦.
Write 旦
旦
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Grammar patterns of 旦
旦 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
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Word Family of 旦
Compounds35
得déto obtain
但dànbut
查chásurname Zha
担dānto undertake
量liángto measure
坦tǎnflat
胆dǎnthe gall
碍àito hinder
袒tǎnto strip, to bare
妲dáconcubine of the last Shang emperor
昼zhòudaytime
靼dáthe Tartars
暨jìand; to reach, to attain; limits, confines
疸dajaundice; stomach disorder
钽tǎntantalum
锝détechnetium
怛dágrieving; worried
柦dàn
淂dé
疍dàn
笪dáa coarse mat of rushes or bamboo
鴠dàn
鼂cháoa kind of sea turtle; surname
呾dá
晝zhòudaytime, daylight
曁jì
棏dé
泹dàn
炟dá
狚dàn
觛dàn
詚dá
鉭tǎn
鍀dé
鼌cháo
Words containing this character20
一旦yídànif
元旦yuándànNew Year's Day
撒旦sādànSatan or Shaitan
约旦yuēdànJordan約旦
旦dàndawn
复旦大学fùdàndàxuéFudan University, Shanghai復旦大學
危在旦夕wēizàidànxīin imminent peril (idiom)
复旦fùdànFudan University, Shanghai, abbr. for 復旦大學|复旦大学[FùdànDàxué]復旦
约旦河yuēdànhéJordan River約旦河
信誓旦旦xìnshìdàndànto make a solemn vow
花旦huādànrole of vivacious young female in Chinese opera
通宵达旦tōngxiāodádànday and night通宵達旦
老旦lǎodànold woman role in Chinese opera
旦角dànjuédan, female roles in Chinese opera (traditionally played by specialized male actors)
刀马旦dāomǎdànfemale warrior role in Chinese opera刀馬旦
李旦lǐdànLi Dan, personal name of sixth Tang emperor Ruizong 唐睿宗[TángRuìzōng] (662-716), reigned 684-690 and 710-712
文旦wéndànpomelo
枕戈待旦zhěngēdàidànto wait for dawn, one's head resting on a spear (idiom)
命在旦夕mìngzàidànxīto be at death's door (idiom)
震旦纪zhèndànjìSinian (c. 800-542 million years ago), late phase of pre-Cambrian geological era震旦紀
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 旦
What does 得 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 旦
旦 has multiple meanings in Chinese, including dawn, morning, and day. It is also used in the context of traditional Chinese opera to denote female characters played by male actors, showing its cultural significance.
You can use 旦 in a sentence to refer to the time of day, such as '早上旦我起床' (I wake up at dawn). It can also be used metaphorically to signify new beginnings or fresh starts, as dawn is often associated with these concepts.
旦 (dàn) means dawn or daybreak in Chinese. It can also refer to morning or simply a day. Additionally, in the context of Chinese opera, it refers to female roles traditionally played by male actors known as 'dan'.
旦 primarily means 'dawn' or 'daybreak'.
In Chinese opera, 旦 refers to female roles, traditionally played by male actors.
Yes, common phrases include 旦时 (at dawn) and 旦夕 (day and night).
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