Writing Balance Rule: The left side (eye radical) is narrower and compressed, while the right side (dun phonetic) is broader and provides structural weight.
1. Meaning
doze or take a short nap
nod off brieflysleep lightly during the day
Verb / NounNeutral#sleep#body state#rest
Sample Usage
他开会时打了个盹儿。
tā kāihuì shí dǎ le gè dǔnr.
He took a little nap during the meeting.
午饭后我想打盹。
wǔfàn hòu wǒ xiǎng dǎ dǔn.
I want to take a nap after lunch.
2. Sound
/[tun²¹⁴]/Tone: 214
盹
dǔndun3
|
++
ˇ(214)
=dǔn
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
dun
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "u" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
d
Type: Unaspirated Alveolar
Sounds like: d sound like English 'd' in 'dog'
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 front teeth.
Final Rhyme
un
Vowel Group: -u vowel group
Sounds like: un rhymes with hoon or roon without the 'r'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'wuhn'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Abbreviated Rhyme Rule: In standard Mandarin pinyin, un following d is short for uen, where the 'e' is elided in pronunciation.
Tone
T3 (214)
2 → 1 → 4 (214)
3rd Tone (Low-Dipping)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 3 dips low and rises, exactly like saying 'What?' in English when asking for repetition in surprise.
Sandhi: When followed by another 3rd tone syllable, dǔn shifts to a 2nd tone (35), turning into dú dǔn.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the 3rd tone dipping contour with the 4th tone sharp drop, or missing the retroflex/alveolar distinction on the initial 'd'.
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Physical Tone Gesture: Trace a checkmark in the air: dip down from chest level to your lowest point, then rise up to eye level.
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (eye radical) is narrower and compressed, while the right side (dun phonetic) is broader and provides structural weight.
4. Components
Radical目 · Eye Radical (eye, vision)
Semantic Clue (形旁):目 (Indicates that dozing or napping is an action performed with or affecting the eyes (drooping eyelids).)
Phonetic Clue (声旁):屯 (original sound: tún / dǔn)
The eye component (目) meets the phonetic component (屯) to show eyes (目) that are stashed away or gathering (屯) sleep energy during a quick daytime rest.
目 eye (semantic clue for vision and eyelids)
屯 store up / camp (provides the pronunciation hint)
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
17· Phonetic Root: 屯 (tún)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Combined the pictographic root for eye (目) with the phonetic indicator (屯) to represent the specific physical state of sleepy, drooping eyes.
Semantic Evolution: Originally referred to sleepy eyes drooping shut, later generalized to mean taking a light nap or dozing off.
The character pairs frequently with the verb 打 (dǎ) to form 打盹 (dǎ dǔn), meaning 'to take a nap'.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: トン
Sound Shift Bridge: Mandarin dǔn connects to phonetically similar concepts of drowsiness in localized contexts.
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
You are sitting at your desk with heavy EYES (目) trying to TUCK away (屯) some rest, causing you to doze off and nod your head in a deep 3rd tone dip.
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
屯
túnstation soldiers, store up, villagePhonetic Core (声旁)