耽

躭

dān

冘 + 耳

Definitions

dān (verb) to indulge in; to be absorbed in

dān (verb) to delay; to waste time

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 冘 represents the sound. Simplified form of 躭.

Semantic: 耳 Phonetic: 冘

About

耽 is the simplified form of 躭, a phono-semantic compound that pairs 耳 (ear), the meaning component, with 冘, the sound component. It originally referred to the physical trait of having large, drooping ears, commonly seen in animals. Through extended use, the meaning shifted from a physical characteristic to a psychological state: to be deeply absorbed, indulgent, or addicted to particular habits and pleasures. This concept of excessive indulgence then led to the modern sense of delaying, wasting time, or neglecting duties while distracted by other pursuits.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

不要耽误学习的时间。

Bùyào dānwù xuéxí de shíjiān.

Don't delay study time.

他耽搁了回家的行程。

Tā dānge le huíjiā de xíngchéng.

He delayed his journey home.

这件事耽误了我们的计划。

Zhè jiàn shì dānwù le wǒmen de jìhuà.

This matter delayed our plan.

她耽于幻想，不愿面对现实。

Tā dānyú huànxiǎng, bù yuàn miànduì xiànshí.

She indulges in fantasy and is unwilling to face reality.

由于天气原因，航班被耽搁了。

Yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn, hángbān bèi dānge le.

Due to weather reasons, the flight was delayed.

耽误了这么久，我们必须加快进度。

Dānwù le zhème jiǔ, wǒmen bìxū jiākuài jìndù.

Having delayed for so long, we must speed up the progress.

他整天耽于享乐，忘记了责任。

Tā zhěngtiān dānyú xiǎnglè, wàngjìle zérèn.

He indulges in pleasure all day, forgetting his responsibilities.

这次会议耽搁了重要决策的制定。

Zhè cì huìyì dānge le zhòngyào juécè de zhìdìng.

This meeting delayed the formulation of important decisions.

Related Characters

Component: 冘

Component: 耳

耽