Definitions

tàn (verb) to sigh; to exclaim

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 𦰩 represents the sound.

About

The traditional forms 嘆 and 歎 both convey emotional expression, incorporating components related to the mouth or exhaling. The simplified character 叹 streamlines these historical structures, combining the mouth radical 口 on the left with the component 又 on the right, originally depicting a right hand, but here functioning primarily as a phonetic element. The character's core meaning is to sigh, capturing the audible exhalation used to express feelings such as grief, frustration, admiration, or deep realization.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

了一口气。

Tā tànle yī kǒu qì.

He sighed.

她常常息命运。

Tā chángcháng tànxī mìngyùn.

She often sighs at fate.

我感时间过得真快。

Wǒ gǎntàn shíjiān guò dé zhēn kuài.

I exclaim at how fast time passes.

大家赞他的勇敢。

Dàjiā zàntàn tā de yǒnggǎn.

Everyone admires his bravery.

我对他的技巧服不已。

Wǒ duì tā de jìqiǎo tànfú bùyǐ.

I am filled with admiration for his skills.

看到美景,她不禁息。

Kàn dào měijǐng, tā bùjīn tànxī.

Seeing the beautiful scenery, she cannot help but sigh.

了一口气,然后继续工作。

Tā tànle yī kǒu qì, ránhòu jìxù gōngzuò.

He sighed and then continued working.

每当想起往事,他总会感人生的无常。

Měi dāng xiǎng qǐ wǎngshì, tā zǒng huì gǎntàn rénshēng de wúcháng.

Whenever he recalls the past, he always sighs at the unpredictability of life.