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惮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
惮dàndreadvg, 11 strokes, radical 忄, rank #49274, Very Hard
惮dànfearvg, 11 strokes, radical 忄, rank #49274, Very Hard
惮dàndislikevg, 11 strokes, radical 忄, rank #49274, Very Hard
惮dànto fear, to dread; to dislike, to avoidvg, 11 strokes, radical 忄, rank #49274, Very Hard
dàn(dan4) T4
  1. 1dread
  2. 2fear
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

惮(憚)dàn(dan4)

The character 惮 (dàn) conveys feelings of dread, fear, or dislike towards something. It is often used in contexts where there is an emotional or psychological aversion, indicating a strong desire to avoid or be cautious of a particular situation or person.

Strokes11Radical忄Frequency#49274DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing fear or dislike can relate to concepts of face (面子) and social harmony. Using 惮 can indicate a deep emotional response that reflects personal values or social expectations.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing at a distance, trembling in fear at the sight of something they dislike. The character 惮 has the heart radical (心) at its core, symbolizing the emotional response, while the outer components suggest an unsettling experience that causes dread.

Meanings of 惮

dàn(dan4)
1dread
2fear
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 惮

惮Simplified
憚Traditional
11Strokes
忄Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#49274Frequency Rank

Podcast: 惮

JasonAmy

Podcast: 惮

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 惮

Quick Contrast

惧 (jù) — use 惮 (dàn) for emotional aversion or dislike, while 惧 (jù) emphasizes fear or terror.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person standing at a distance, trembling in fear at the sight of something they dislike. The character 惮 has the heart radical (心) at its core, symbolizing the emotional response, while the outer components suggest an unsettling experience that causes dread.

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in more formal contexts or literary language, so it may not be as common in everyday conversation. Be cautious with tone, as using 惮 in the wrong context can come off as overly dramatic or formal when discussing minor dislikes.

HSK Study Tips

Although 惮 is not included in HSK levels, it connects with other emotional vocabulary that students may encounter in advanced learning. Focus on its usage in literature and formal writing to appreciate its nuances.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing fear or dislike can relate to concepts of face (面子) and social harmony. Using 惮 can indicate a deep emotional response that reflects personal values or social expectations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 惮 with similar characters like 恐 (kǒng) for fear. For example, saying '我惮这个' (I dread this) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我对这个感到恐惧' (I feel fear towards this).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 惮

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Etymology of 惮

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 单 represents the sound. Simplified form of 憚.

Memory Hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)忄
+
Phonetic (sound)单
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 惮?

Decomposition of 惮

IDS Structure⿰忄单
惮Full Character
=
忄xin1
left
单dan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 惮?

Write 惮

惮

Practice writing 惮 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 惮

惮 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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 2

Complete the Sentence

一天天过去,哈里代的评论越来越肆无忌____,越来越讨人嫌,越来越阴损了.

Halliday's comments grew daily more and more sparklingly disagreeable and disparaging.

Example Sentences for 惮 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一天天过去,哈里代的评论越来越肆无忌惮,越来越讨人嫌,越来越阴损了.

yī tiān tiān guò qù, , hā lǐ dài de píng lùn yuè lái yuè sì wú jì, dàn , yuè lái yuè tǎo, rén xián , yuè lái yuè.

Halliday's comments grew daily more and more sparklingly disagreeable and disparaging.
2
他带着肆无忌惮的好奇瞧着她.

tā dài zháo sì wú jì dàn de hǎo qí qiáo zháo tā.

He looked at her with unashamed curiosity.

Cultural Notes for 惮

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, expressing fear or dislike can relate to concepts of face (面子) and social harmony. Using 惮 can indicate a deep emotional response that reflects personal values or social expectations.

Word Family of 惮

Words Containing This Character3
肆无忌惮sìwújìdànunbridled肆無忌憚
忌惮restraining fear忌憚
惮dàndread憚
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 肆无忌惮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 惮

You can say '我对这个项目感到惮' (I feel dread towards this project) to express your feelings.