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敦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
敦
dūn
honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem
ns, 12 strokes, radical 攵, rank #12871, Very Hard
敦
dūn
place name
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 攵, rank #12871, Very Hard
dūn(dun1)dun T1
1honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem
2place name
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March 24, 2026
敦(㪟)dūn(dun1)
The character 敦 (dūn) conveys a sense of honesty, sincerity, and kindness. It is often used to describe individuals who are straightforward and trustworthy, and it can also relate to the esteem given to someone or something. In addition, it appears as a variant in personal names and place names, reflecting a cultural emphasis on moral integrity.
Strokes12Radical攵Frequency#12871DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 敦 represents not only personal virtues but also societal values, reflecting the importance of honesty and integrity in relationships and business. It is often used in contexts that celebrate traditional virtues.
Memory tip
Imagine a kind-hearted person (敦) standing on a 'dune' (sounds like 'dūn') of sand, sharing honest stories with everyone around them. The character's form, with the radical for 'earth' (土), suggests a grounded, sincere nature.
Meanings of 敦
dūn(dun1)
1honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem
2place name
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 敦 means.
About 敦
敦Simplified
㪟Traditional
12Strokes
攵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 敦
Podcast: 敦
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AI study notes for 敦
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 敦, as it is pronounced with a high level tone (dūn). It's common to see this character used in formal contexts, such as in literature or when discussing virtues. A common collocation is 敦厚 (dūnhòu), meaning 'kind-hearted' or 'generous.'
HSK Study Tips
While 敦 is not currently categorized in the HSK levels, it may be beneficial for learners at HSK 4 or 5 to recognize this character as it embodies complex moral qualities. Students should focus on its nuances and usage in context, especially in literature and idiomatic expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 敦 with similar-sounding characters like '顿' (dùn), which means 'to pause' or 'to stop.' Remember, 敦 focuses on sincerity and kindness, while '顿' refers to a momentary halt.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敦
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 敦 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.
敦 = 享 + 攵. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 敦
IDS Structure⿰享攵
敦Full character
=
享xiang3
left
攵pu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 敦?
How to say honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem in Chinese
“honest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; to esteem” in Chinese is敦dūn
The character 敦 (dūn) conveys a sense of honesty, sincerity, and kindness. It is often used to describe individuals who are straightforward and trustworthy, and it can also relate to the esteem given to someone or something. In addition, it appears as a variant in personal names and place names, reflecting a cultural emphasis on moral integrity.
When to use 敦
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 敦, as it is pronounced with a high level tone (dūn). It's common to see this character used in formal contexts, such as in literature or when discussing virtues. A common collocation is 敦厚 (dūnhòu), meaning 'kind-hearted' or 'generous.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 敦 with similar-sounding characters like '顿' (dùn), which means 'to pause' or 'to stop.' Remember, 敦 focuses on sincerity and kindness, while '顿' refers to a momentary halt.
Write 敦
敦
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Practice writing 敦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 敦
敦 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 2 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们依然很熟悉伦____市郊的喧闹声。
Their ears were still attuned to the sounds of the London suburb.
