Character

胆

dǎn HSK 5

胆 dǎn HSK 5

1. gallbladder, the sac-like organ that stores bile
2. courage, guts
3. inner bladder or liner of a container (for holding water, air, etc.)
4. a surname

Words using 胆 as dǎn (6)

1 大胆 dà dǎn — bold HSK 5
- 大 big, great (intensifies the courage)
- 胆 courage, guts, boldness (core concept of bravery)
Example

这是一个大胆的尝试。

zhè shì yí gè dà dǎn de cháng shì

This is a bold attempt.
2 胆小 dǎn xiǎo — timid, cowardly HSK 5
- 胆 courage, bravery (literally gallbladder)
- 小 small, little (indicating lack of courage)
Example

他很胆小，不敢一个人走夜路。

tā hěn dǎn xiǎo bù gǎn yí gè rén zǒu yè lù

He is very timid and doesn't dare walk alone at night.
3 提心吊胆 tí xīn diào dǎn — on tenterhooks; anxious and fearful HSK 7
- 提 lift, raise (the heart)
- 心 heart (seat of emotions)
- 吊 hang, suspend (in anxiety)
- 胆 gallbladder, courage (source of bravery)
Example

孩子第一天上学，妈妈提心吊胆地等他回家。

hái zi dì yī tiān shàng xué mā ma tí xīn diào dǎn de děng tā huí jiā

On the child's first day of school, the mother anxiously waited for him to come home.
4 胆小鬼 dǎn xiǎo guǐ — coward HSK 7
- 胆 courage, guts
- 小 small, little
- 鬼 person, fellow (colloquial, slightly derogatory)
Example

你这个胆小鬼，连老鼠都怕。

nǐ zhè ge dǎn xiǎo guǐ lián lǎo shǔ dōu pà

You coward, you're even afraid of mice.
5 胆怯 dǎn qiè — timid HSK 7
- 胆 courage, bravery
- 怯 fearful, timid
Example

她胆怯地走进了老师的办公室。

tā dǎn qiè de zǒu jìn le lǎo shī de bàn gōng shì

She timidly walked into the teacher's office.

Structure & writing

胆 dǎn — gallbladder, the sac-like organ that stores bile

胆 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1 ⺼ — flesh/meat radical, representing body tissue or muscle

⺼ is a component in 68 characters

HSK 1

能 néng ability; talent; skill 脑 nǎo brain (the main part of the nervous system, located in the cranial cavity, comprising cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, etc.)

HSK 2

然 rán (lit.) correct; right

HSK 3

育 yù to give birth to 胖 pàng fat, overweight (opposite of 瘦) 脏 zàng internal organs of the body 脚 jiǎo foot (of a person or animal) 脸 liǎn face (front of the head, from forehead to chin)

Show more HSK 3 characters (+1)

腿 tuǐ leg (of a person or animal)

HSK 4

肚 dù belly; abdomen 肤 fū skin, the outer surface of the human body 肯 kěn meat attached to bone; key or vital part 背 bèi back (of the upper body, opposite the chest and abdomen) 胳 gē arm (used in "胳膊" "胳臂"), the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the wrist

Show more HSK 4 characters (+4)

脱 tuō to come off; to fall away 脾 pí spleen (internal organ) 膊 bo 膏 gāo fat; grease; oil

HSK 5

捐 juān to abandon; to give up 肌 jī muscle; tissue composed of muscle fibers capable of contraction 肖 xiào to resemble, to look like 肥 féi fat; containing much fat (opposite of 'lean'; generally not used for people except in 肥胖, 减肥) 胁 xié the side of the body between the armpit and the waist

Show more HSK 5 characters (+6)

胃 wèi stomach (digestive organ connecting the esophagus and duodenum) 胆 dǎn gallbladder, the sac-like organ that stores bile 胜 shèng to defeat an opponent or enemy 胡 hú ancient general term for northern and western ethnic peoples 腰 yāo waist; the middle part of the body between the hips and ribs 膀 bǎng upper arm connected to the shoulder

HSK 6

肝 gān liver (digestive organ in humans and higher animals) 肠 cháng intestine (digestive organ connecting stomach to anus, divided into small and large intestine) 股 gǔ thigh (from hip to knee) 肩 jiān shoulder, the part of the body between the neck and arm 肪 fáng fat (as in 脂肪): organic compound formed from fatty acids and glycerol, stored in animal and plant tissue as an energy source

Show more HSK 6 characters (+11)

肺 fèi lung (respiratory organ) 肿 zhǒng to swell (of skin, mucous membrane, muscle, etc. due to circulatory obstruction, inflammation, suppuration, or internal bleeding) 胞 bāo placenta and fetal membranes 胶 jiāo glue or adhesive substance (made from animal hides, horns, or plant secretions, or synthetic) 胸 xiōng chest; the front of the torso between the neck and abdomen 脂 zhī fat or oil from animal tissue or oil-bearing plant seeds 脆 cuì brittle; easily broken (opposite of "韧") 脖 bó neck (the part connecting head and torso) 腔 qiāng hollow or organ-containing cavity inside an animal's body 臂 bì arm 骨 gǔ bone, the hard tissue supporting the body in humans and vertebrates

HSK 7

婿 xù husband 祭 jì to pay tribute to the deceased 筋 jīn tendon or ligament connecting muscle to bone 肢 zhī limb (arm or leg of a person, or leg of certain animals) 胀 zhàng to swell, expand in volume (opposite of 缩)

Show more HSK 7 characters (+18)

胎 tāi fetus; embryo in the womb of a human or other mammal 胚 pēi embryo; organism in early development, formed from fertilized or unfertilized egg 脉 mài blood vessel 腆 tiǎn (lit.) abundant; plentiful 腊 là ancient winter sacrifice to the gods held in the 12th lunar month 腕 wàn wrist; ankle 腥 xīng raw meat; meat and fish foods 腹 fù abdomen; belly 腻 nì to feel put off by greasy food 腼 miǎn shy and awkward; see 腼腆膛 táng body cavity 膜 mó membrane (thin tissue in humans, animals, and plants) 膝 xī knee, the front part connecting the thigh and lower leg, containing a joint 膨 péng to expand in volume; to swell 膳 shàn meal; food 臀 tún buttocks 藤 téng plant name: ① wisteria (紫藤), a climbing plant with purple flowers, commonly called 藤萝; ② rattan (白藤), an evergreen woody plant with long, flexible yet tough stems used for weaving chairs, baskets, and boxes, commonly called 藤子; ③ gamboge tree (藤黄), an evergreen tree with round fruit and yellow resin used as a pigment, but toxic and not for coloring food 豚 tún piglet; pig in general

2 旦 dàn — dawn; early morning

旦 is a component in 11 characters

HSK 1

得 dé to get; to obtain (opposite of 失) 是 shì correct; right (opposite of 非)

HSK 2

但 dàn only, merely

HSK 3

担 dān to carry on a shoulder pole 查 chá to inspect carefully; to examine

HSK 4

量 liàng ancient measuring vessel (e.g. dǒu, shēng)

HSK 5

胆 dǎn gallbladder, the sac-like organ that stores bile

HSK 6

碍 ài to hinder, obstruct

HSK 7

坦 tǎn flat and wide 昼 zhòu daytime; the period from dawn to dusk (opposite of '夜') 暨 jì and; as well as (connecting nouns or noun phrases)

Stroke order