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坦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
坦
tǎn
flat
n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #7632, Hard
坦
tǎn
open-hearted
n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #7632, Hard
坦
tǎn
level
n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #7632, Hard
坦
tǎn
smooth
n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #7632, Hard
坦
tǎn
flat, level, smooth; candid, open
n, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #7632, Hard
tǎn(tan3)tan T3
1flat
2open-hearted
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March 24, 2026
坦tǎn(tan3)
The character 坦 (tǎn) primarily means 'flat' or 'level', often describing surfaces that are smooth or even. It can also be used to refer to being open-hearted or candid in communication. In conversational contexts, it is common to express feelings or thoughts in a straightforward manner using this word.
Strokes8Radical土Frequency#7632DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being 坦诚 (open-hearted) is highly valued in personal relationships and business, where directness can foster trust and clarity. This contrasts with some cultures where indirect communication is preferred.
Memory tip
Imagine a flat, smooth table (the form of 坦) where you can lay out all your thoughts openly. The top of the table represents the flatness, while the act of laying things out symbolizes being open-hearted. Visualize a friend sharing their feelings honestly across this table.
Meanings of 坦
tǎn(tan3)
1flat
2open-hearted
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 坦
坦Simplified
8Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7632Frequency Rank
Podcast: 坦
Podcast: 坦
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AI study notes for 坦
Quick Contrast
坦 (tǎn) vs 平 (píng) — use 坦 when emphasizing openness or candidness, while 平 focuses more on the flatness or evenness of a surface.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone as 坦 is pronounced with a third tone, which can sometimes be mistaken for other characters. It is often used in phrases such as 坦诚 (tǎnchéng) meaning 'candid' or 'sincere'. Make sure to use it appropriately in informal discussions to express openness.
HSK Study Tips
While 坦 is not in the official HSK vocabulary list, it is related to other level-appropriate words like 平 (píng, flat) and 直 (zhí, straight). Students should focus on the usage of 坦 in idiomatic expressions to enhance their conversational fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坦 with similar-sounding characters like 谈 (tán, to talk) due to mispronunciation. Ensure you practice the correct third tone for 坦 to distinguish it clearly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坦
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 坦 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.
坦 = 土 + 旦. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 坦
IDS Structure⿰土旦
坦Full character
=
土Tu3
left
旦dan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 坦?
How to say flat in Chinese
“flat” in Chinese is坦tǎn
The character 坦 (tǎn) primarily means 'flat' or 'level', often describing surfaces that are smooth or even. It can also be used to refer to being open-hearted or candid in communication. In conversational contexts, it is common to express feelings or thoughts in a straightforward manner using this word.
When to use 坦
Be cautious with the tone as 坦 is pronounced with a third tone, which can sometimes be mistaken for other characters. It is often used in phrases such as 坦诚 (tǎnchéng) meaning 'candid' or 'sincere'. Make sure to use it appropriately in informal discussions to express openness.
坦 or something close to it
坦 (tǎn) vs 平 (píng) — use 坦 when emphasizing openness or candidness, while 平 focuses more on the flatness or evenness of a surface.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坦 with similar-sounding characters like 谈 (tán, to talk) due to mispronunciation. Ensure you practice the correct third tone for 坦 to distinguish it clearly.
Write 坦
坦
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Practice writing 坦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 坦
坦 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 5 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.
The self-confessed drug addict was arrested 13 months ago.
9
沃勒斯坦的作品可以细分成3个主要的主题。
wò lè Sī tǎn de zuòpǐn kěyǐ xì fēnchéng3 gè zhǔyào de zhǔtí。
Wallerstein's work can be separated into three main component themes.
10
他的长相非常孩子气,显得性情很好且诚实坦率.
tā de zhǎngxiàng fēicháng háizi qì, xiǎnde xìngqíng hěn hǎo qiě chéngshí tǎnshuài.
His classic boyish looks seemed to proclaim his good humour and openness.
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Word Family of 坦
Words containing this character20
坦白tǎnbáihonest
巴基斯坦bājīsītǎnPakistan
巴勒斯坦bālèsītǎnPalestine
坦克tǎnkètank (military vehicle) (loanword)
坦tǎnflat
坦诚tǎnchéngcandid坦誠
坦言tǎnyánto say candidly
坦然tǎnráncalm
坦率tǎnshuàiblunt
爱因斯坦àiyīnsītǎnAlbert Einstein (1879-1955), German-born theoretical physicist愛因斯坦
哈萨克斯坦hāsàkèsītǎnKazakhstan哈薩克斯坦
平坦píngtǎnlevel
斯坦福sītǎnfúStanford (University)
斯坦利sītǎnlìStanley (name)
舒坦shūtancomfortable
乌兹别克斯坦wūzībiékèsītǎnUzbekistan烏茲別克斯坦
坦承tǎnchéngto confess
伊斯坦布尔yīsītǎnbù’ěrIstanbul, Turkey伊斯坦布爾
坦荡tǎndàngmagnanimous坦蕩
吉尔吉斯斯坦jí’ěrjísīsītǎnKyrgyzstan吉爾吉斯斯坦
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 坦
What does 坦白 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 坦
Common phrases that include 坦 are 坦诚 (tǎn chéng), meaning 'sincere' or 'honest', and 坦然 (tǎn rán), which means 'calmly' or 'unperturbed'. These phrases often emphasize a sense of openness and honesty in communication.
You can use 坦 in various contexts, such as saying 坦率 (tǎn shuài) to mean 'frank' or 'candid'. For example, you might say '他很坦率' (Tā hěn tǎn shuài), which means 'He is very straightforward.' This showcases the character's meaning related to openness.
坦 (tǎn) means flat, level, or smooth. It can also refer to being open-hearted or straightforward in personality. This character is often used in contexts discussing surfaces or describing someone's demeanor.
You can say, '我想坦诚地跟你谈谈' (I want to talk to you candidly).
Yes, 坦诚 (tǎnchéng) means 'candid' or 'sincere'.
While it is generally informal, it can be used in formal contexts to convey sincerity.
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