unknown, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #9298, Very Hard
tān(tan1) T1
1beach
2shoal
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March 24, 2026
滩(灘)tān(tan1)
The character 滩 (tān) refers to a beach, shoal, or sandbar, often associated with shallow water areas. It can describe a variety of environments where water meets land, such as riverbanks or coastal regions. Commonly used in geographical contexts, this term evokes imagery of leisure and natural beauty.
Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#9298DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, beaches and rivers are often seen as places for relaxation and family outings, especially during festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival, where people enjoy activities near water.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'tan' (sounds like 'tān') where you relax on a beach. The water '滩' is shallow and calm, perfect for a peaceful day. Visualize the waves gently lapping at the 'sand' (the '水' radical) as you relax on the shores.
Meanings of 滩
tān(tan1)
1beach
2shoal
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 滩
滩Simplified
灘Traditional
13Strokes
氵Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#9298Frequency Rank
片Measure Word
Podcast: 滩
Podcast: 滩
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 滩
Quick Contrast
沙滩 (shātān, sandy beach) vs 滩 (tān, shoal) — use 沙滩 when specifically referring to a sandy beach, while 滩 can refer to any shallow water area.
Usage Notes
滩 is typically used in informal contexts, especially when discussing nature or travel. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters like '贪' (tān), which means greedy. Common collocations include '沙滩' (shātān) meaning 'sand beach' and '江滩' (jiāngtān) meaning 'riverbank.'
HSK Study Tips
While 滩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can enhance understanding of water-related terms. Students should focus on its usage in context with related terms like '海' (hǎi, sea) and '河' (hé, river) to build a cohesive vocabulary around water features.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滩 with '滩' (tān) and '贪' (tān). For example, saying '我喜欢贪海边' (I like being greedy by the seaside) instead of '我喜欢滩海边' (I like the beach). Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct term.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滩
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1The giveawayDifficult 难 waters 氵 to navigate; 难 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 滩? 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 滩?
Decomposition of 滩
IDS Structure⿰氵难
滩Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
难nan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 滩?
How to say beach in Chinese
“beach” in Chinese is滩tān
The character 滩 (tān) refers to a beach, shoal, or sandbar, often associated with shallow water areas. It can describe a variety of environments where water meets land, such as riverbanks or coastal regions. Commonly used in geographical contexts, this term evokes imagery of leisure and natural beauty.
When to use 滩
滩 is typically used in informal contexts, especially when discussing nature or travel. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters like '贪' (tān), which means greedy. Common collocations include '沙滩' (shātān) meaning 'sand beach' and '江滩' (jiāngtān) meaning 'riverbank.'
滩 or something close to it
沙滩 (shātān, sandy beach) vs 滩 (tān, shoal) — use 沙滩 when specifically referring to a sandy beach, while 滩 can refer to any shallow water area.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 滩 with '滩' (tān) and '贪' (tān). For example, saying '我喜欢贪海边' (I like being greedy by the seaside) instead of '我喜欢滩海边' (I like the beach). Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct term.
Write 滩
滩
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Practice writing 滩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 滩
滩 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 4 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
这艘船停靠在细沙____上。
The ship has come to rest on the fine sand.
Common Confusions with 滩
滩vs潭
tán
Different character with a similar phonetic sound but refers to a deep water area.
