Definitions

tán surname Tan
tán sandalwood; hardwood; purple-red

Etymology phono-semantic

tree

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

檀 (tán) is a phono-semantic compound denoting various hardwoods, most notably fragrant and durable sandalwood. Its semantic radical 木 (mù) on the left indicates the botanical category of trees and timber. The right component 亶 (dǎn) serves as the phonetic element, providing the character's pronunciation. This term commonly refers to aromatic woods used for incense, fine furniture, and religious objects. It also frequently appears in transliterations of foreign terms related to Buddhism and geography, where the botanical character is used to represent specific syllables from languages like Sanskrit.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这张桌子是木做的。

Zhè zhāng zhuōzi shì tán mù zuò de.

This table is made of sandalwood.

我最喜欢香的味道。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuān tánxiāng de wèidao.

I like the scent of sandalwood the most.

寺庙里弥漫着香。

Sìmiào lǐ mímàn zhe tánxiāng.

The temple is filled with the aroma of sandalwood.

他收藏了一件紫木家具。

Tā shōucáng le yī jiàn zǐtán mù jiājù.

He collected a piece of rosewood furniture.

奶奶的香扇非常精美。

Nǎinai de tánxiāng shàn fēichāng jīngměi.

Grandmother's sandalwood fan is very exquisite.

这块木的纹理清晰美观。

Zhè kuài tán mù de wénlǐ qīngxī měiguān.

The grain of this piece of sandalwood is clear and beautiful.

香的气息使人内心宁静。

Tánxiāng de qìxī shǐ rén nèixīn níngjìng.

The scent of sandalwood brings inner peace to people.

工匠精心雕刻着那块紫木。

Gōngjiàng jīngxīn diāokè zhe nà kuài zǐtán mù.

The craftsman is meticulously carving that piece of rosewood.