HanziGuru.担 · dān
担
dān[dan1]Tone 1

to carry, to undertake, responsibility

HSK 4
View Traditional FormSwitch to Traditional
擔
Multiple Readings (多音字):
Guru Deep Dive

English · to carry, to undertake, responsibility

Cached lesson
1 / 1
Topology:Left-right
Strokes:8
Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (hand component) occupies about one-third of the width, while the right phonetic/meaning component takes up the remaining two-thirds, keeping both sides visually balanced vertically.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form 擔 replaces the complex right phonetic structure with 旦 (dàn), simplifying the stroke count while preserving the phonetic cue.
1. Meaning

to carry on a shoulder pole, to undertake, to assume responsibility

classifier for loads carried on a pole (dan)burden, load
VerbNeutral#action#responsibility#labor
Sample Usage
  • 他愿意承担这个责任。
    Tā yuànyì chéngdān zhège zérèn.
    He is willing to shoulder this responsibility.
  • 这副担子很重。
    Zhè fù dànzi hěn zhòng.
    This burden is very heavy.
2. Sound
/[tan⁵⁵]/Tone: 55
担
dāndan1
++
¯(55)
=dān
Initial Consonant
d
Type: Unaspirated Alveolar
Sounds like: d sound as in English 'do'
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: No puff of air. Tissue remains still (sounds like English 't' in 'stop').
Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip touches the alveolar ridge behind the upper teeth.
Final Rhyme
an
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: -an rhymes with 'on' in British English or 'an' in pan without nasal distortion
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ahn'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T1 (55)
1st Tone (High-Flat)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 1 is a high, steady musical note, just like humming a sustained pitch at the top of your normal speaking voice.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse with dan4 (Tone 4, to store/pelt or flat tone falling), which drops sharply. dān is completely flat and high.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Keep your hand flat and steady at eye level, like drawing a straight horizon line across the sky to represent the high level pitch.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 8 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (hand component) occupies about one-third of the width, while the right phonetic/meaning component takes up the remaining two-thirds, keeping both sides visually balanced vertically.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 擔 replaces the complex right phonetic structure with 旦 (dàn), simplifying the stroke count while preserving the phonetic cue.

4. Components

Radical 扌 · Hand Radical (hand action or manual labor)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 扌 (indicates manual action, carrying with hands or shoulders)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 旦 (original sound: dàn / dān)

A person uses their HAND (扌) to CARRY or shoulder burdens from dawn (旦) till dusk.

  • 扌 Hand component (left)
  • 旦 Dawn / phonetic clue (right)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from the hand radical 扌 (manual action) and 旦 (dàn, representing morning or a load balanced on a pole), illustrating the physical act of carrying goods or shouldering responsibilities.

Semantic Evolution: Originally meant physical carrying with a shoulder pole or hands, it naturally extended metaphorically to bearing psychological or social responsibilities.

  • Shoulder poles (担子) have been the primary method of freight transport in rural China for millennia.
  • The character bridges physical load-bearing directly to moral and duty-based obligations.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: タン / Kun: 担ぐ, になう
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
담
Sound Shift Bridge: The initial 'd' and ending '-an' correspond closely to ancient dental-nasal structures preserved across East Asian borrowing layers.
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

You use your HAND (扌) from DAWN (旦) until late to CARRY heavy boxes and UPROOT all your responsibilities.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
但
dànbut, howeverUses the person radical (亻) instead of hand (扌); means 'however, but'.
胆
dǎngallbladder, courageUses the flesh/moon radical (月) on the left; refers to courage or organs.
担
dānto carry, shoulderUses the hand radical (扌); represents physical or metaphorical carrying.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
但(dàn)
但 uses亻(person), meaning 'however/but'. 担 uses扌(hand), meaning 'to carry/undertake'.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
我们每个人都应该[___]起自己的责任。
Clue: dān
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing 担 (dān, to carry) with 但 (dàn, but) due to the identical phonetic right side 旦.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What does 担 mean when combined with 任 to form 担任?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to carry/undertake' (dān) with a hand radical?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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