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淡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
淡dàninsipidHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dàndilutedHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dànweakHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dànmildHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dànlight in colorHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dàntastelessHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dànfreshHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dànindifferentHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dànnitrogenHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
淡dànwatery, dilute; insipid, tastelessHSK 5, a, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7420, Hard
dàn(dan4) T4
  1. 1insipid
  2. 2diluted
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
淡dàn(dan4)

The character 淡 (dàn) primarily means 'insipid' or 'diluted,' often used to describe flavors, colors, or emotions that lack intensity. It can refer to something that is mild in taste, like a light broth, or a pale color. This word is commonly used in culinary contexts as well as in discussions about feelings or attitudes.

Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#7420DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, the preference for flavors can vary significantly, with some regional dishes being very light and mild (淡), while others are bold and spicy. Understanding the balance of flavors is essential in Chinese cooking culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bowl of soup that is so watered down that it lacks flavor—this is the essence of 淡 (dàn). The left side of the character,氵, represents water, suggesting dilution, while the right side, 旦, can remind you of dawn, which is light and mild in color.

Meanings of 淡

dàn(dan4)
1insipid
2diluted
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 淡

淡Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#7420Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 淡

JasonAmy

Podcast: 淡

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 淡

Quick Contrast

淡 (dàn) vs 清 (qīng) — use 淡 for describing something insipid or mild, while 清 specifically denotes clarity or purity.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bowl of soup that is so watered down that it lacks flavor—this is the essence of 淡 (dàn). The left side of the character,氵, represents water, suggesting dilution, while the right side, 旦, can remind you of dawn, which is light and mild in color.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; 淡 (dàn) is a fourth tone, and mispronouncing it could change its meaning. It's often used in a neutral or negative context, so be mindful of the situation when describing something as '淡.' Common collocations include '淡水' (freshwater) and '淡味' (mild flavor).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 淡 (dàn) connects to other adjectives describing taste and color. Students should focus on recognizing it in various contexts, especially in menus or discussions about food, and practice using it in sentences to enhance fluency.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, the preference for flavors can vary significantly, with some regional dishes being very light and mild (淡), while others are bold and spicy. Understanding the balance of flavors is essential in Chinese cooking culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 淡 (dàn) with 清 (qīng), which also means 'light' or 'clear,' but with a different nuance. For example, saying '这个汤是清' (zhège tāng shì qīng) could be misleading; it's better to use '淡' to refer to taste.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 淡

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Etymology of 淡

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 炎 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 淡?

Decomposition of 淡

IDS Structure⿰氵炎
淡Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
炎yan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 淡?

Write 淡

淡

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 淡

淡 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 10 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.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

他对工作的兴趣渐渐____了下去。

His interest in work gradually faded away.

Common Confusions with 淡

淡vs惮
dàn

Same pronunciation but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "insipid"?

or

Usage Notes for 淡

Misinterpretation of '淡'Common Error

'淡' can refer to flavor, color, or emotional state. Be cautious not to confuse it with stronger descriptors.

1

这道菜的味道有点淡。

The flavor of this dish is a bit mild.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

这道菜的味道有点____。

The flavor of this dish is a bit mild.

Example Sentences for 淡 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
露西的冷淡与世故使得巴里十分不快。

lòu xī de lěng dàn yǔ shì gù shǐ dé bā lǐ shí fēn bù kuài。

Barry had his nose put out of joint by Lucy's aloof sophistication.
2
你的生活从那时起一定非常平淡无奇。

nǐ de shēng huó cóng nà shí qǐ yī dìng fēi cháng píng dàn wú qí。

Your life since then must have seemed very ordinary.
3
英国铁路公司遭受了4,500万英镑的巨额损失后境况更加惨淡。

yīng guó tiě lù gōng sī zāo shòu le4,500 4,500 wàn yīng bàng de jù é sǔn shī hòu jìng kuàng gēng jiā cǎn。

The gloom deepened after a thumping £45m loss at British Rail.
4
喝这酒的时候可以搭配浓乳酪或淡乳酪。

hē zhè jiǔ de shí hòu kě yǐ dā pèi nóng rǔ lào huò dàn rǔ lào。

The wine goes with strong and mild cheese alike.
5
过去这几天似乎比较平淡无聊。

guò qù zhè jī tiān sì hū bǐ jiào píng dàn wú liáo。

The past few days have seemed comparatively flat and empty.
6
“我认识你。”他平淡地说道，就事论事，不带任何感情。

“ “ wǒ rèn shí。” nǐ 。” tā píng dàn dì， shuō dào ， jiù， shì lùn shì ， bù dài。

"I know you," he said flatly, matter-of-fact, neutral in tone.
7
半轮月亮躲在淡淡的云彩之后。

bàn lún yuè liàng duǒ zài dàn dàn de yún cǎi zhī hòu。

The half moon is hidden behind some wispy clouds.
8
房间内有烟斗烟丝的淡淡馨香。

fáng jiān nèi yǒu yān dǒu yān sī de dàn dàn xīn xiāng。

The room held the faint, sweet odour of pipe tobacco.
9
从平淡无奇到离奇百怪的各种说法都有。

cóng píng dàn wú qí dào lí qí bǎi guài de gè zhǒng shuō fǎ dū yǒu。

The allegations ranged from the banal to the bizarre.
10
这一设计由淡色的3个长方形和3个三角形构成。

zhè yī shè jì yóu dàn sè de3 3 gè cháng fāng xíng3 hé 3 gè sān jiǎo xíng。

This design is in pastel colours with three rectangles and three triangles.

Cultural Notes for 淡

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, the preference for flavors can vary significantly, with some regional dishes being very light and mild (淡), while others are bold and spicy. Understanding the balance of flavors is essential in Chinese cooking culture.

Word Family of 淡

Words Containing This Character20
淡dàninsipid
扯淡to talk nonsense
平淡píngdànflat
淡淡faint
冷淡lěngdàncold
清淡qīngdàninsipid
淡然indifferent
淡水dànshuǐfresh water
淡忘to be forgotten
淡化dànhuàto water down
暗淡dark
黯淡dark
轻描淡写to play down輕描淡寫
平淡无奇ordinary and mediocre (idiom); nothing to write home about平淡無奇
淡出to fade out (cinema)
淡季dànjìoff season
惨淡dark慘淡
冲淡to dilute沖淡
淡漠apathetic
淡薄thin
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 淡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 淡

You can say '这个汤味道很淡' (zhège tāng wèidào hěn dàn) meaning 'This soup tastes very mild.'