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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
Podcast: 淡
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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.
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.
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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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 炎 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half炎 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 淡? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
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?
How to say insipid in Chinese
“insipid” in Chinese is淡dàn
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.
When to use 淡
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).
淡 or something close to it
淡 (dàn) vs 清 (qīng) — use 淡 for describing something insipid or mild, while 清 specifically denotes clarity or purity.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 淡
淡
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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.
