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炭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
炭
tàn
wood charcoal
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #15623, Very Hard
炭
tàn
coal
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #15623, Very Hard
炭
tàn
carbon, charcoal, coal
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #15623, Very Hard
tàn(tan4)tan T4
1wood charcoal
2coal
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March 24, 2026
炭tàn(tan4)
The character 炭 (tàn) refers to charcoal or coal, substances primarily used as fuel. It is commonly found in contexts related to cooking, heating, and industrial processes, highlighting its importance in energy production and traditional practices, such as barbecuing.
Strokes9Radical火Frequency#15623DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, charcoal has historical significance, especially in traditional cooking methods like hot pot and barbecues. It is also associated with ancient practices of using charcoal for artistic ink preparation.
Memory tip
Imagine a blackened piece of wood glowing in the fire, producing smoke (the character 炭 has a fire radical 火 on the left). The 't' sound in 'tàn' can remind you of the 't' in 'torch', which you might use to light the charcoal.
Meanings of 炭
tàn(tan4)
1wood charcoal
2coal
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 炭
炭Simplified
9Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#15623Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 炭
Podcast: 炭
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AI study notes for 炭
Quick Contrast
炭 (charcoal) vs 煤 (méi, coal) — use 炭 for charcoal used in cooking, while 煤 refers specifically to coal used for energy.
Usage Notes
This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with 石炭 (shítàn), which specifically means 'coal'—炭 usually refers to charcoal. Remember to practice the correct tones, as 'tàn' is pronounced with a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
炭 (tàn) is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects to other words related to fuel and energy, such as 燃料 (ránliào, fuel). Students should focus on recognizing it in reading materials related to cooking or energy.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 炭 with 煤 (méi, which means 'coal'). For example, saying '我喜欢吃炭' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī tàn - I like to eat charcoal) is incorrect; instead, you should say '我喜欢吃烧烤' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī shāokǎo - I like to eat barbecue).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 炭
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 炭 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
炭 = 灰 + 山. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 炭
IDS Structure⿱山灰
炭Full character
=
山Shan1
top
灰hui1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 炭?
How to say wood charcoal in Chinese
“wood charcoal” in Chinese is炭tàn
The character 炭 (tàn) refers to charcoal or coal, substances primarily used as fuel. It is commonly found in contexts related to cooking, heating, and industrial processes, highlighting its importance in energy production and traditional practices, such as barbecuing.
When to use 炭
This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with 石炭 (shítàn), which specifically means 'coal'—炭 usually refers to charcoal. Remember to practice the correct tones, as 'tàn' is pronounced with a falling tone.
炭 or something close to it
炭 (charcoal) vs 煤 (méi, coal) — use 炭 for charcoal used in cooking, while 煤 refers specifically to coal used for energy.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 炭 with 煤 (méi, which means 'coal'). For example, saying '我喜欢吃炭' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī tàn - I like to eat charcoal) is incorrect; instead, you should say '我喜欢吃烧烤' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī shāokǎo - I like to eat barbecue).
Write 炭
炭
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Grammar patterns of 炭
炭 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.
No sooner were the pieces of charcoal rubbed against the glass rod than electricity appeared on the rod.
4
强酸性泥炭土常呈现低钙.
jiàng suān xìng ní tàn tǔ cháng chéngxiàn dī gài.
Strongly acid peat soils are often low in calcium.
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Word Family of 炭
Compounds3
碳tàncarbon (chemistry)
羰tāngcarbonyl group
湠tàn
Words containing this character20
煤炭méitàncoal
炭tàncoal
炭疽tànjūanthrax
焦炭jiāotàncoke (processed coal used in blast furnace)
泥炭nítànpeat
木炭mùtàncharcoal
活性炭huóxìngtànactivated carbon
雪中送炭xuězhōngsòngtànlit. to send charcoal in snowy weather (idiom)
黑炭hēitàncoal
烧炭shāotànto manufacture charcoal燒炭
石炭shítàncoal (old)
炭疽病tànjūbìnganthrax
石炭系shítànxìcarboniferous system
生灵涂炭shēnglíngtútànpeople are in a terrible situation (idiom)生靈塗炭
涂炭tútànextreme distress塗炭
火炭huǒtànlive coal
石炭纪shítànjìCarboniferous (geological period 354-292m years ago)石炭紀
石炭酸shítànsuānphenol C6H5OH
骨炭gǔtànbone black
苍生涂炭cāngshēngtútànthe common people in a miserable state蒼生塗炭
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 炭
What does 碳 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 炭
炭 (tàn) refers specifically to charcoal, while 煤 (méi) refers to coal. Charcoal is typically produced from wood and used for cooking, whereas coal is a fossil fuel used for energy production.
To use 炭 in a sentence, you can say: '我用炭烧烤' which means 'I use charcoal for barbecuing.' It often appears in contexts related to cooking, heating, or discussing energy resources.
炭 (tàn) refers to charcoal or coal in Chinese. It can also denote carbon, particularly in contexts related to energy sources or materials used for heating and cooking.
It is pronounced as 'tàn' with a falling tone.
Yes, it is also used in various industrial applications, including metallurgy and air purification.
木炭 (mùtàn) specifically refers to wood charcoal, while 炭 can refer to both charcoal and coal more generally.
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