Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
坛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
坛
tán
altar
HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Very Hard
坛
tán
earthen jar
HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Very Hard
坛
tán
altar; arena; examination hall
HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Very Hard
tán(tan2)tan T2
1altar
2earthen jar
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
坛(壇)tán(tan2)
坛 (tán) refers to a platform or altar used for religious or ceremonial purposes. It can also denote an earthen jar or an arena, depending on the context. This character is commonly found in phrases related to rituals, examinations, or gatherings.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#25247DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 坛 is often associated with ancestral worship and traditional ceremonies, reflecting the importance of honoring ancestors in Chinese society. Many festivals involve setting up altars for offerings.
Memory tip
Imagine a large, earth-colored jar (坛) standing on a platform. The shape of the jar resembles a podium where ceremonies are held, and you can remember the pronunciation 'tán' by picturing someone 'tanning' on an altar under the sun.
Meanings of 坛
tán(tan2)
1altar
2earthen jar
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 坛 means.
About 坛
坛Simplified
壇Traditional
7Strokes
土Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#25247Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 坛
Podcast: 坛
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 坛
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 坛 with other similar characters. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in religious settings or discussions about history. Common collocations include 祭坛 (jìtán, altar for sacrifices) and 考试坛 (kǎoshìtán, examination hall).
HSK Study Tips
While 坛 is not an HSK level word, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of religious and cultural texts in Mandarin. Focus on its usage in compound words and phrases to deepen your vocabulary at higher levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坛 with other similar characters, such as 台 (tái), which means 'platform' in a more general sense. For example, saying 考试台 instead of 考试坛 is incorrect when referring to an examination altar.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坛
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 坛, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 坛 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 坛?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 坛 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
坛 = 土 + 云. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 坛
IDS Structure⿰土云
坛Full character
=
土Tu3
left
云yun2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 坛?
How to say altar in Chinese
“altar” in Chinese is坛tán
坛 (tán) refers to a platform or altar used for religious or ceremonial purposes. It can also denote an earthen jar or an arena, depending on the context. This character is commonly found in phrases related to rituals, examinations, or gatherings.
When to use 坛
Be careful not to confuse 坛 with other similar characters. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in religious settings or discussions about history. Common collocations include 祭坛 (jìtán, altar for sacrifices) and 考试坛 (kǎoshìtán, examination hall).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坛 with other similar characters, such as 台 (tái), which means 'platform' in a more general sense. For example, saying 考试台 instead of 考试坛 is incorrect when referring to an examination altar.
Write 坛
坛
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 坛 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 坛
坛 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 3 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这是英国体____大事表上最负盛名的赛事之一。
It is one of the British sporting calendar's most prestigious events.
Example sentences for 坛 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这是英国体坛大事表上最负盛名的赛事之一。
zhè shì Yīng guó tǐ tán dàshì biǎo shàng zuì fù chéng míng de sàishì zhīyī。
It is one of the British sporting calendar's most prestigious events.
2
在世界体坛上，一枚奥运会金牌是最令人向往的奖项。
zài shìjiè tǐ tán shàng， yī méi àoyùnhuì jīnpái shì zuì lìng rén xiàngwǎng de jiǎngxiàng。
An Olympic gold medal is the most sought-after prize in world sport.
3
玛蒂尔达在一块有花鸟图案的祭坛布上刺绣。
mǎ dì ěr dá zài yī kuài yǒu huā niǎo tú’àn de jì tán bù shàng cìxiù。
Matilda was embroidering an altar cloth covered with flowers and birds.
