HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 疒, rank #19998, Very Hard
瘫
tān
paralysis, palsy, numbness
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 疒, rank #19998, Very Hard
tān(tan1) T1
1paralyzed
2paralysis, palsy, numbness
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
瘫(癱)tān(tan1)
The character 瘫 (tān) refers to a state of paralysis or being paralyzed, often used in medical contexts. It can describe physical paralysis as well as the numbness or loss of function in limbs. This term can also be utilized metaphorically to describe a state of inactivity or inability to function effectively.
Strokes15Radical疒Frequency#19998DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of paralysis is often linked to the balance of qi (energy) in the body, and treatments may involve acupuncture or herbal remedies to restore function. The term reflects both modern medical terminology and traditional understanding of health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'tan' (瘫) bear who is unable to move due to being stuck in a muddy puddle. The bear's paralysis represents the character's meaning, while the visual of the muddy puddle connects to the character's form with the '病' radical, suggesting illness or disability.
Meanings of 瘫
tān(tan1)
1paralyzed
2paralysis, palsy, numbness
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 瘫
瘫Simplified
癱Traditional
15Strokes
疒Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#19998Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 瘫
Podcast: 瘫
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 瘫
Quick Contrast
瘫 (tān) vs 麻 (má) — choose 瘫 when specifically referring to paralysis, while 麻 indicates numbness or a tingling sensation.
Usage Notes
The term 瘫 is often used in medical contexts, so it's more formal and less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like 贪 (tān), which means greedy. It often collocates with words related to health or medical conditions, such as '瘫痪' (tānhuàn) meaning paralysis.
HSK Study Tips
Although 瘫 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for learners at higher levels interested in medical or health-related topics. Students should focus on understanding its usage in contexts related to health and disability.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 瘫 with similar characters like 赡 (shàn) or 贪 (tān). For example, saying '我感觉瘫了' (Wǒ gǎnjué tānle) is incorrect if they mean 'I feel paralyzed by inaction'—'瘫' should only describe a physical state of paralysis.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瘫
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 瘫 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 难 represents the sound. Simplified form of 癱.
1The meaning half疒 carries the sense.
2The sound half难 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaysickness
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 瘫? 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 瘫?
Decomposition of 瘫
IDS Structure⿸疒难
瘫Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
难nan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 瘫?
How to say paralyzed in Chinese
“paralyzed” in Chinese is瘫tān
The character 瘫 (tān) refers to a state of paralysis or being paralyzed, often used in medical contexts. It can describe physical paralysis as well as the numbness or loss of function in limbs. This term can also be utilized metaphorically to describe a state of inactivity or inability to function effectively.
When to use 瘫
The term 瘫 is often used in medical contexts, so it's more formal and less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like 贪 (tān), which means greedy. It often collocates with words related to health or medical conditions, such as '瘫痪' (tānhuàn) meaning paralysis.
瘫 or something close to it
瘫 (tān) vs 麻 (má) — choose 瘫 when specifically referring to paralysis, while 麻 indicates numbness or a tingling sensation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瘫 with similar characters like 赡 (shàn) or 贪 (tān). For example, saying '我感觉瘫了' (Wǒ gǎnjué tānle) is incorrect if they mean 'I feel paralyzed by inaction'—'瘫' should only describe a physical state of paralysis.
Write 瘫
瘫
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 瘫 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 瘫
瘫 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 2 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.
The snake uses its venom to stun or paralyze its victims.
Word Family of 瘫
Words Containing This Character10
瘫痪tānhuànparalysis癱瘓
瘫tānparalyzed癱
脑瘫cerebral palsy腦癱
面瘫facial nerve paralysis面癱
偏瘫hemiplegia偏癱
瘫软limp癱軟
截瘫paraplegia截癱
瘫子paralyzed person癱子
风瘫paralysis風癱
疯瘫paralysis瘋癱
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瘫痪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瘫
瘫 specifically refers to a state of being paralyzed, often used for a more severe or complete loss of function, while other terms may describe varying degrees of impairment.
Yes, it can describe a state of inactivity or being unable to act, such as feeling 'paralyzed' by fear or indecision.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 瘫?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
