诞

誕

dàn

延 + 讠

Definitions

dàn (noun) birth; birthday

dàn (verb) to boast; to brag

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 延 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "tell false words". The meaning later shifted to "boast", "increase", and "give birth". Simplified form of 誕.

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 延

About

诞，the simplified form of 誕, is a phonosemantic compound. The left side is the speech radical 讠, linking the character to speaking and language. The right side 延 (yán) means 'to extend' and serves as the phonetic component, while also possibly implying the continuation of a family line. In its earliest usage, 诞 conveyed the idea of telling false words or boasting. Over time, its meanings broadened to 'increase' and, most notably, 'to give birth' or 'birthday', frequently occurring in contexts of nativity (such as the birth of a sage or deity) and commemorative anniversaries.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

圣诞节快到了。

Shèngdàn jié kuài dào le.

Christmas is coming soon.

婴儿诞生在医院。

Yīng'ér dànshēng zài yīyuàn.

The baby was born in the hospital.

我们庆祝圣诞节日。

Wǒmen qìngzhù shèngdàn jiérì.

We celebrate the Christmas holiday.

他的诞辰是五月一日。

Tā de dànchén shì wǔ yuè yī rì.

His birthday is on May first.

这个故事很荒诞。

Zhège gùshi hěn huāngdàn.

This story is very absurd.

新公司诞生于去年。

Xīn gōngsī dànshēng yú qùnián.

The new company was established last year.

诞生的时刻令人感动。

Dànshēng de shíkè lìng rén gǎndòng.

The moment of birth is deeply moving.

这个理论诞生于实验中。

Zhège lǐlùn dànshēng yú shíyàn zhōng.

This theory was born out of experiments.

Related Characters

Component: 延

Component: 讠

诞