Meanings of 嘆
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About 嘆
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Podcast: 嘆
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AI Study Notes for 嘆
感叹 (gǎntàn, to exclaim, to express a strong emotion) is used when someone is expressing a more intense emotional reaction compared to 嘆 (tàn), which is more subdued and reflective.
Imagine someone sighing deeply while looking at a beautiful sunset. The shape of the character 嘆 resembles an open mouth (口) releasing a sigh, combined with the radical for 'words' (口), suggesting the expression of feelings through speech.
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 嘆, as it is pronounced with a falling tone (tàn). Common collocations include 嘆息 (tànxī - to sigh) and 嘆为观止 (tàn wéi guān zhǐ - to admire greatly). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where a more sophisticated term might be preferred.
While 嘆 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other HSK words that express emotions, such as 哭 (kū - to cry) and 笑 (xiào - to laugh). Focus on its pronunciation and emotional context to enhance your vocabulary.
In Chinese culture, sighing can be a common expression of sentiment, often reflecting a deep emotional response to beauty or loss, which is why 嘆 is frequently encountered in poetry and literature.
Learners often confuse 嘆 with 叹, mistakenly using 叹 in everyday conversation. The correct usage in informal contexts is 嘆, as it feels more natural.
Pronunciation of 嘆
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Etymology of 嘆
mouth
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 嘆
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Write 嘆
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Cultural Notes for 嘆
In Chinese culture, sighing can be a common expression of sentiment, often reflecting a deep emotional response to beauty or loss, which is why 嘆 is frequently encountered in poetry and literature.
Word Family of 嘆
Compound Meaning
What does 惊叹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嘆
Both characters are pronounced the same but 嘆 is more commonly used in modern contexts, while 叹 is often found in literary or formal settings.
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