檀

tán

亶 + 木

Definitions

tán surname Tan

tán sandalwood; hardwood; purple-red

Etymology phono-semantic

tree

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 亶

About

The character 檀 (tán) is a phono-semantic compound denoting various types of hardwood trees, most notably sandalwood, which is highly prized for its fragrance and durability. The left side is the semantic radical 木 (mù) 'wood/tree', categorizing it under botany, while the right side 亶 (dǎn) acts as the phonetic component. The term frequently refers to aromatic woods used in the making of incense, high-quality furniture, and religious artifacts; it also appears in phonetic transcriptions of Buddhist and geographical terms, representing specific syllables in transliterated Sanskrit.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这张桌子是檀木做的。

Zhè zhāng zhuōzi shì tán mù zuò de.

This table is made of sandalwood.

我最喜欢檀香的味道。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuān tánxiāng de wèidao.

I like the scent of sandalwood the most.

寺庙里弥漫着檀香。

Sìmiào lǐ mímàn zhe tánxiāng.

The temple is filled with the aroma of sandalwood.

他收藏了一件紫檀木家具。

Tā shōucáng le yī jiàn zǐtán mù jiājù.

He collected a piece of rosewood furniture.

奶奶的檀香扇非常精美。

Nǎinai de tánxiāng shàn fēichāng jīngměi.

Grandmother's sandalwood fan is very exquisite.

这块檀木的纹理清晰美观。

Zhè kuài tán mù de wénlǐ qīngxī měiguān.

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

檀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檀木。

Gōngjiàng jīngxīn diāokè zhe nà kuài zǐtán mù.

The craftsman is meticulously carving that piece of rosewood.

Related Characters

Component: 亶

Component: 木

檀