谈

談

tán

炎 + 讠

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

tán (verb) to speak; to talk; to discuss

tán (verb) to chat; to converse

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 炎 represents the sound. Simplified form of 談.

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 炎

About

谈 is the simplified form of the traditional character 談, and it is a phonosemantic compound. The left side is the simplified speech radical 讠 (corresponding to 言 in traditional), which signals that the character is associated with language and communication. The right side is 炎, a component that means 'flames' or 'heat', but here it functions solely as the phonetic element, indicating the pronunciation. In meaning, 谈 covers a wide range of verbal interaction, from casual, informal conversations and small talk among friends to highly structured formal negotiations and diplomatic dialogues.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们谈一谈吧。

Wǒmen tán yī tán ba.

Let's talk a bit.

他们谈论电影。

Tāmen tánlùn diànyǐng.

They discuss movies.

我们需要谈判。

Wǒmen xūyào tánpàn.

We need to negotiate.

老师和我谈心。

Lǎoshī hé wǒ tánxīn.

The teacher has a heart-to-heart talk with me.

关于工作，我们谈了很久。

Guānyú gōngzuò, wǒmen tánle hěn jiǔ.

Regarding work, we talked for a long time.

她善于谈论历史。

Tā shànyú tánlùn lìshǐ.

She is good at discussing history.

在会议上，双方进行了谈判。

Zài huìyì shàng, shuāngfāng jìnxíngle tánpàn.

At the meeting, both sides conducted negotiations.

关于国际关系，专家们展开了热烈的谈论。

Guānyú guójì guānxì, zhuānjiā men zhǎnkāile rèliè de tánlùn.

Regarding international relations, experts launched a heated discussion.

Related Characters

Component: 炎

Component: 讠

谈