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郯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
郯tánsurname Tanunknown, 10 strokes, radical 阝
郯tánan ancient city; surnamens, 10 strokes, radical 阝
郯tánname of an ancient cityunknown, 10 strokes, radical 阝
tán(Tan2)tan T2
  1. 1surname Tan
  2. 2an ancient city; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Tan — see the Surname Dictionary
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March 24, 2026

郯tán(Tan2)

The character 郯 (tán) refers primarily to an ancient city known in historical texts. It is also used as a surname in China, particularly associated with the Tan family. The character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in historical or genealogical contexts.

Strokes10Radical阝
Cultural Note

The name 郯 is significant in historical texts that document ancient Chinese states and cities, reflecting the importance of lineage and heritage in Chinese culture. The Tan surname has a rich history, making it notable for genealogical studies.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'tan' (郯) landscape where ancient ruins of a city lie hidden under a blanket of greenery. The '郯' structure resembles a city gate (the enclosure) with the top radical hinting at its historical significance. Visualizing this scene helps connect the character to its meaning.

Meanings of 郯

tán(Tan2)
1an ancient city; surname
2name of an ancient city
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 郯

郯Simplified
10Strokes
阝Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 郯

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Podcast: 郯

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AI Study Notes for 郯

Usage Notes

Since 郯 is not frequently used in modern language, learners may mistakenly use it in everyday conversation instead of more common characters. It typically appears in formal or historical contexts, so be sure to use it appropriately.

HSK Study Tips

Though 郯 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding its historical context can enhance your knowledge of ancient Chinese geography and surnames. Focus on the connection between surnames and their historical roots, which is common in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 郯 with more commonly used characters or use it incorrectly in casual conversation. For example, saying '我住在郯' (I live in Tán) is incorrect unless referring to a historical context; use more common city names instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 郯

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Etymology of 郯

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

city

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

Origin

郯 = 阝 + 炎. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 郯

IDS Structure⿰炎阝
郯Full Character
=
炎yan2
left
阝yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 郯?

How to say surname Tan in Chinese

“surname Tan” in Chinese is郯tán

The character 郯 (tán) refers primarily to an ancient city known in historical texts. It is also used as a surname in China, particularly associated with the Tan family. The character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in historical or genealogical contexts.

When to use 郯

Since 郯 is not frequently used in modern language, learners may mistakenly use it in everyday conversation instead of more common characters. It typically appears in formal or historical contexts, so be sure to use it appropriately.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 郯 with more commonly used characters or use it incorrectly in casual conversation. For example, saying '我住在郯' (I live in Tán) is incorrect unless referring to a historical context; use more common city names instead.

Write 郯

郯

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

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Word Family of 郯

Words Containing This Character3
郯tánsurname Tan
郯城Tancheng county in Linyi 臨沂|临沂[Lín​yí], Shandong
郯城县Tancheng county in Linyi 臨沂|临沂[Lín​yí], Shandong郯城縣
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 郯

What does 郯城 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 郯

It primarily refers to an ancient city and can also be a surname.

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