HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 攵, rank #399, Medium
敢
gǎn
daring
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 攵, rank #399, Medium
敢
gǎn
(polite) may I venture
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 攵, rank #399, Medium
敢
gǎn
bold, brave; to dare, to venture
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 攵, rank #399, Medium
gǎn(gan3)gan T3
1to dare
2daring
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March 24, 2026
敢gǎn(gan3)
The character 敢 (gǎn) means 'to dare' or 'to have the courage to do something.' It is often used to express boldness or bravery, as well as in polite requests where one might venture a suggestion or opinion. Common contexts include challenges, risks, or when asking for permission in a respectful way.
Strokes11Radical攵Frequency#399DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, daring to take risks is often admired, particularly in business and personal growth contexts. The phrase 敢闯 (gǎn chuǎng), meaning 'to dare to venture,' reflects a common encouragement to embrace challenges.
Memory Tip
Imagine a brave warrior (the character 敢) standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to jump into the unknown. The radical '木' (wood) in the character can remind you of the strength of trees, symbolizing stability and courage, while the pronunciation 'gǎn' sounds like 'can,' linking the ability to dare with the notion of capacity.
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AI Study Notes for 敢
Quick Contrast
敢 (dare) vs 允许 (allow) — choose 敢 when emphasizing personal courage or boldness, while 允许 focuses on granting permission.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 敢 with similar characters like 能 (néng, can) or 敢于 (gǎnyú, dare to), which can lead to misunderstandings. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful with the tone; saying '敢' without the right context can sound overly aggressive.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 敢 connects with other verbs of action and emotion. Focus on how it fits into phrases of challenge or permission, and practice using it in sentences that require courage or boldness to prepare for more complex language use.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 敢 with the verb '敢于' (gǎnyú) which means 'to dare to.' For example, saying '我敢去' (wǒ gǎn qù) is correct, but saying '我敢于去' (wǒ gǎnyú qù) sounds awkward in casual conversation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敢
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The character 敢 (gǎn) means 'to dare' or 'to have the courage to do something.' It is often used to express boldness or bravery, as well as in polite requests where one might venture a suggestion or opinion. Common contexts include challenges, risks, or when asking for permission in a respectful way.
When to use 敢
Learners often confuse 敢 with similar characters like 能 (néng, can) or 敢于 (gǎnyú, dare to), which can lead to misunderstandings. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful with the tone; saying '敢' without the right context can sound overly aggressive.
敢 or something close to it
敢 (dare) vs 允许 (allow) — choose 敢 when emphasizing personal courage or boldness, while 允许 focuses on granting permission.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 敢 with the verb '敢于' (gǎnyú) which means 'to dare to.' For example, saying '我敢去' (wǒ gǎn qù) is correct, but saying '我敢于去' (wǒ gǎnyú qù) sounds awkward in casual conversation.
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敢
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Grammar Patterns of 敢
敢 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.
I can't believe he actually dared to perform a parachute jump in front of so many people.
13
她敢挑战传统观念，为女性争取更多的权利。
Tā gǎn tiǎozhàn chuántǒng guānniàn, wèi nǚxìng zhēngqǔ gèng duō de quánlì.
She dares to challenge traditional beliefs and fight for more rights for women.
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Cultural Notes for 敢
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of daring often relates to traditional values of bravery and taking risks for family or community. The character '敢' reflects a mindset of courage that is celebrated in stories and folklore.
Word Family of 敢
Compounds8
橄gan3olive
憨han1silly, foolish; coquettish
嚴yan2strict, rigorous, rigid; stern
澉gan3to wash; a place name
阚han3to glance, to peep; to growl, to roar
噉
撖han4
闞han3to glance, to peep; to growl, to roar
Words Containing This Character18
敢gǎnto dare
勇敢yǒnggǎnbrave
敢于gǎnyúto dare to敢於
竟敢jìnggǎnto have the impertinence
胆敢to dare (negative connotation)膽敢
敢情gǎnqingactually
果敢courageous
敢死队suicide squad敢死隊
不敢当bùgǎndāngyou flatter me不敢當
岂敢how could one dare?豈敢
不敢苟同to beg to differ (idiom)
敢为人先to dare to be first敢為人先
敢作敢为to stop at nothing (idiom)敢作敢為
敢作敢当the buck stops here敢作敢當
愧不敢当You flatter me too much.愧不敢當
敢怒而不敢言unable to voice objections
不敢越雷池一步dare not go one step beyond the prescribed limit
未敢苟同can't agree with
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 敢
What does 橄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 敢
敢 (gǎn) is classified as an HSK level 3 word. This means it is considered to be part of the vocabulary expected to be known by learners who are at an intermediate level in Chinese.
Yes, 敢 is commonly used in everyday conversation, particularly when discussing actions that require bravery or boldness. It is also used in polite requests, making it a versatile word in various contexts.
敢 (gǎn) means 'to dare' or 'daring' in Chinese. It can also be used in a polite context to mean 'may I venture'. This character expresses a sense of courage or boldness in taking action.
You can use 敢 in sentences to express daring actions or requests. For example, '我敢去尝试' (Wǒ gǎn qù chángshì) means 'I dare to try'. It can also be used in polite requests, like '您敢告诉我吗？' (Nín gǎn gàosù wǒ ma?), which means 'May I ask you?'.
You can say '我敢去' (wǒ gǎn qù), meaning 'I dare to go.'
No, 敢 can be used in both serious and casual contexts, but it always conveys a sense of courage.
Yes, it can be used politely, such as in '敢问' (gǎn wèn), meaning 'may I ask.'
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