About
The character "谈", whose traditional form is written as "談", is constructed from the semantic component "言" meaning speech or words, and the phonetic component "炎" which denotes flames or burning heat, a combination that conceptually suggests speech with intensity or earnest discussion. Its earliest meanings were closely tied to dialogue, discourse, or debate, often implying a sincere or serious exchange, a sense still preserved in modern compounds. Over time, the semantic field of the character expanded and generalized, shedding some of its specific connotation of earnestness to encompass the broader, more neutral idea of speaking or conversing about any subject, as seen in its common modern usage meaning simply "to talk" or "to discuss".
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们谈一谈吧。
他们谈论电影。
我们需要谈判。
老师和我谈心。
关于工作，我们谈了很久。
她善于谈论历史。
在会议上，双方进行了谈判。
关于国际关系，专家们展开了热烈的谈论。