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忐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
忐tǎnnervous, timorouszg, 7 strokes, radical 心
tǎn(tan3)tan T3
  1. 1nervous, timorous
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March 24, 2026

忐tǎn(tan3)

The character 忐 (tǎn) conveys a sense of nervousness or timidity. It is often used to describe a state of anxiety or unease, particularly in situations that provoke fear or uncertainty. This character can be encountered in contexts discussing emotions, such as being anxious before an important event.

Strokes7Radical心
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing feelings of nervousness is often a part of social interactions, especially before exams or public speaking. The concept of being 忐忑 reflects the cultural emphasis on performance and the pressure to succeed.

Memory tip

Imagine a heart (心) that is beating fast and unsteady due to nervousness. The character 忐 can be visualized as a heart (心) that is not calm, representing the feeling of being nervous. You can remember 'tǎn' by thinking of 'trembling heart' in a tense situation.

Meanings of 忐

tǎn(tan3)
1nervous, timorous
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 忐

忐Simplified
7Strokes
心Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 忐

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Podcast: 忐

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AI study notes for 忐

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 忐, as a mispronunciation can change its meaning. Common collocations include 忐忑 (tǎntè), meaning anxious or apprehensive. This word is generally used in informal contexts when discussing feelings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 忐 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it shares a thematic connection with feelings and emotions that are present in HSK levels. Students should focus on understanding its usage in emotional contexts to enhance their vocabulary around feelings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 忐 with similar-sounding words like 谈 (tán), which means 'to talk.' For example, saying 我很谈 (Wǒ hěn tán) instead of 我很忐忑 (Wǒ hěn tǎntè) would be incorrect, as it changes the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 忐

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Etymology of 忐

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A weight on 上 the heart 心

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 忐?

Decomposition of 忐

IDS Structure⿱上心
忐Full character
=
上shang3
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 忐?

How to say nervous, timorous in Chinese

“nervous, timorous” in Chinese is忐tǎn

The character 忐 (tǎn) conveys a sense of nervousness or timidity. It is often used to describe a state of anxiety or unease, particularly in situations that provoke fear or uncertainty. This character can be encountered in contexts discussing emotions, such as being anxious before an important event.

When to use 忐

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 忐, as a mispronunciation can change its meaning. Common collocations include 忐忑 (tǎntè), meaning anxious or apprehensive. This word is generally used in informal contexts when discussing feelings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 忐 with similar-sounding words like 谈 (tán), which means 'to talk.' For example, saying 我很谈 (Wǒ hěn tán) instead of 我很忐忑 (Wǒ hěn tǎntè) would be incorrect, as it changes the intended meaning.

Write 忐

忐

Practice writing 忐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 忐

忐 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

伯莎一直____忑不安地等待着这无可避免的难熬的时刻.

Bertha had been awaiting, with great discomfort , the necessary ordeal.

Example sentences for 忐 (2)

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1
伯莎一直忐忑不安地等待着这无可避免的难熬的时刻.

bà shā yìzhí tǎn tè bù’ān dì děngdài zhe zhè wú kě bìmiǎn de nán áo de shíkè.

Bertha had been awaiting, with great discomfort , the necessary ordeal.
2
于是他们怀着忐忑不安的心情, 穿过山楂丛,走下山坡.

yúshì tāmen huái zhe tǎn tè bù’ān de xīnqíng, chuānguò shān chá cóng, zǒu xiàshān pō.

With beating hearts, they descended through the hawthorns.

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Word Family of 忐

Words containing this character3
忐忑不安restless
忐忑nervous
忐tǎnnervous
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 忐

What does 忐忑不安 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 忐

You can say: 我现在很忐忑 (Wǒ xiànzài hěn tǎntè), meaning 'I am feeling very nervous right now.'

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