Meanings of 瘫
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About 瘫
Podcast: 瘫
Podcast: 瘫
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AI Study Notes for 瘫
瘫 (tān) vs 麻 (má) — choose 瘫 when specifically referring to paralysis, while 麻 indicates numbness or a tingling sensation.
The term 瘫 is often used in medical contexts, so it's more formal and less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like 贪 (tān), which means greedy. It often collocates with words related to health or medical conditions, such as '瘫痪' (tānhuàn) meaning paralysis.
Although 瘫 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for learners at higher levels interested in medical or health-related topics. Students should focus on understanding its usage in contexts related to health and disability.
Learners often confuse 瘫 with similar characters like 赡 (shàn) or 贪 (tān). For example, saying '我感觉瘫了' (Wǒ gǎnjué tānle) is incorrect if they mean 'I feel paralyzed by inaction'—'瘫' should only describe a physical state of paralysis.
Pronunciation of 瘫
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Jason Explains 瘫 to You
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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.
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Etymology of 瘫
Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 难 represents the sound. Simplified form of 癱.
sickness
Origin
瘫 = 疒 + 难. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 瘫
Parts
Which of these is part of 瘫?
How to say paralyzed in Chinese
“paralyzed” in Chinese is瘫
The character 瘫 (tān) refers to a state of paralysis or being paralyzed, often used in medical contexts. It can describe physical paralysis as well as the numbness or loss of function in limbs. This term can also be utilized metaphorically to describe a state of inactivity or inability to function effectively.
When to use 瘫
The term 瘫 is often used in medical contexts, so it's more formal and less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like 贪 (tān), which means greedy. It often collocates with words related to health or medical conditions, such as '瘫痪' (tānhuàn) meaning paralysis.
瘫 or something close to it
瘫 (tān) vs 麻 (má) — choose 瘫 when specifically referring to paralysis, while 麻 indicates numbness or a tingling sensation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瘫 with similar characters like 赡 (shàn) or 贪 (tān). For example, saying '我感觉瘫了' (Wǒ gǎnjué tānle) is incorrect if they mean 'I feel paralyzed by inaction'—'瘫' should only describe a physical state of paralysis.
Write 瘫
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Practice writing 瘫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 瘫
瘫 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 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
一场暴风雨致使公路隐患重重且电力____痪。
A storm has made roads treacherous and knocked out power.
Example Sentences for 瘫 (10)
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Word Family of 瘫
Words with 瘫
What does 瘫痪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瘫
瘫 specifically refers to a state of being paralyzed, often used for a more severe or complete loss of function, while other terms may describe varying degrees of impairment.
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