HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Very Hard
坛
tán
earthen jar
HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Very Hard
坛
tán
altar; arena; examination hall
HSK 7, ng, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #25247, Very Hard
tán(tan2) T2
1altar
2earthen jar
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March 24, 2026
坛(壇)tán(tan2)
坛 (tán) refers to a platform or altar used for religious or ceremonial purposes. It can also denote an earthen jar or an arena, depending on the context. This character is commonly found in phrases related to rituals, examinations, or gatherings.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#25247DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 坛 is often associated with ancestral worship and traditional ceremonies, reflecting the importance of honoring ancestors in Chinese society. Many festivals involve setting up altars for offerings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, earth-colored jar (坛) standing on a platform. The shape of the jar resembles a podium where ceremonies are held, and you can remember the pronunciation 'tán' by picturing someone 'tanning' on an altar under the sun.
Meanings of 坛
tán(tan2)
1altar
2earthen jar
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 坛
坛Simplified
壇Traditional
7Strokes
土Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#25247Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 坛
Podcast: 坛
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AI Study Notes for 坛
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 坛 with other similar characters. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in religious settings or discussions about history. Common collocations include 祭坛 (jìtán, altar for sacrifices) and 考试坛 (kǎoshìtán, examination hall).
HSK Study Tips
While 坛 is not an HSK level word, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of religious and cultural texts in Mandarin. Focus on its usage in compound words and phrases to deepen your vocabulary at higher levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坛 with other similar characters, such as 台 (tái), which means 'platform' in a more general sense. For example, saying 考试台 instead of 考试坛 is incorrect when referring to an examination altar.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坛
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Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 云 represents the sound. Simplified form of 壇.
1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
2The sound half云 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayearth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 坛? 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 坛?
Decomposition of 坛
IDS Structure⿰土云
坛Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
云yun2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 坛?
How to say altar in Chinese
“altar” in Chinese is坛tán
坛 (tán) refers to a platform or altar used for religious or ceremonial purposes. It can also denote an earthen jar or an arena, depending on the context. This character is commonly found in phrases related to rituals, examinations, or gatherings.
When to use 坛
Be careful not to confuse 坛 with other similar characters. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in religious settings or discussions about history. Common collocations include 祭坛 (jìtán, altar for sacrifices) and 考试坛 (kǎoshìtán, examination hall).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坛 with other similar characters, such as 台 (tái), which means 'platform' in a more general sense. For example, saying 考试台 instead of 考试坛 is incorrect when referring to an examination altar.
Write 坛
坛
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Practice writing 坛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 坛
坛 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
这是英国体____大事表上最负盛名的赛事之一。
It is one of the British sporting calendar's most prestigious events.
Example Sentences for 坛 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这是英国体坛大事表上最负盛名的赛事之一。
zhè shì yīng guó tǐ tán dà shì biǎo shàng zuì fù shèng míng de sài shì zhī yī。
It is one of the British sporting calendar's most prestigious events.
2
在世界体坛上，一枚奥运会金牌是最令人向往的奖项。
zài shì jiè tǐ tán shàng， ， yī méi ào yùn huì jīn pái shì zuì líng rén xiàng wǎng de jiǎng。
An Olympic gold medal is the most sought-after prize in world sport.
3
玛蒂尔达在一块有花鸟图案的祭坛布上刺绣。
mǎ dì ěr dá zài yī kuài yǒu huā niǎo tú àn de jì tán bù shàng cì xiù。
Matilda was embroidering an altar cloth covered with flowers and birds.
