HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Hard
坛
tán
earthen jar
HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Hard
坛
tán
altar; arena; examination hall
HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Hard
tán(tan2) T2
1altar
2earthen jar
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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#25247DifficultyHard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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
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AI Study Notes for 坛
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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
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Practice writing 坛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Complete the Sentence
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 dà shì biǎo shàng zuì fù shèng míng de sài shì zhī yī。
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 shì jiè tǐ tán shàng， ， yī méi ào yùn huì jīn pái shì zuì líng rén xiàng wǎng de jiǎng。
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 cì xiù。
Matilda was embroidering an altar cloth covered with flowers and birds.
Keegan announced he was hanging up his boots for good.
Cultural Notes for 坛
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 坛
Words Containing This Character19
论坛lùntánforum (for discussion)論壇
祭坛altar祭壇
坛tánplatform壇
政坛political circles政壇
乐坛music circles樂壇
歌坛singing stage歌壇
坛子jug (earthenware with a big belly and a small opening)罈子
足坛soccer circles足壇
花坛Huatan township in Changhua county 彰化縣|彰化县[Zhānghuàxiàn], Taiwan花壇
影坛moviedom影壇
体坛sporting circles體壇
文坛literary circles文壇
讲坛a platform (to speak)講壇
天坛Temple of Heaven (in Beijing)天壇
诗坛poetry circles詩壇
画坛painting world畫壇
金坛Jintan county level city in Changzhou 常州[Chángzhōu], Jiangsu金壇
地坛Temple of Earth (in Beijing)地壇
醋坛子vinegar jar醋罈子
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 论坛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 坛
Common phrases include 祭坛 (jìtán, altar for sacrifices) and 考试坛 (kǎoshìtán, examination hall).
坛 specifically refers to ceremonial platforms, while platforms in general could be denoted by characters like 平台 (píngtái).
It's more commonly used in formal or specific contexts rather than everyday conversation.
