Meanings of 惮
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About 惮
Podcast: 惮
Podcast: 惮
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AI Study Notes for 惮
惧 (jù) — use 惮 (dàn) for emotional aversion or dislike, while 惧 (jù) emphasizes fear or terror.
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.
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.
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).
Pronunciation of 惮
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Etymology of 惮
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 单 represents the sound. Simplified form of 憚.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 惮
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 单 represents the sound. Simplified form of 憚.
- 1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half单 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayheart
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 惮? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 惮
Identify the Components
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How to say dread in Chinese
“dread” in Chinese is惮
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.
When to use 惮
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.
惮 or something close to it
惧 (jù) — use 惮 (dàn) for emotional aversion or dislike, while 惧 (jù) emphasizes fear or terror.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 惮
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Practice writing 惮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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.
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)
Word Family of 惮
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.
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