谭

譚
tán
覃 + 讠

Definitions

tán (verb) talk; discuss
Tán (noun) surname

Etymology phono-semantic

speech

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 覃

About

The character 谭 is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 讠 (the simplified speech radical) marks it as relating to speaking, while the right component 覃 provides the sound. In its traditional form 譚, the radical is the full 言. In classical usage, 谭 served as a verb meaning to talk expansively or discuss, very close in both meaning and pronunciation to 谈, which eventually supplanted it for that sense. Now 谭 is almost exclusively a common surname; its verbal function survives only in historical texts.

Example Sentences Hide

谭老师教我们数学。

Tán lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Teacher Tan teaches us mathematics.

我们一起谈论天气。

Wǒmen yīqǐ tánlùn tiānqì.

We discuss the weather together.

谭嗣同是历史人物。

Tán Sìtóng shì lìshǐ rénwù.

Tan Sitong is a historical figure.

谭经理负责这个项目。

Tán jīnglǐ fùzé zhège xiàngmù.

Manager Tan is in charge of this project.

谭同学喜欢读书和运动。

Tán tóngxué xǐhuān dúshū hé yùndòng.

Classmate Tan likes reading and sports.

他们经常谈论未来的计划。

Tāmen jīngcháng tánlùn wèilái de jìhuà.

They often discuss future plans.

谭教授不仅教学严谨，而且待人友善。

Tán jiàoshòu bùjǐn jiàoxué yánjǐn, érqiě dàirén yǒushàn.

Professor Tan is not only rigorous in teaching but also friendly to people.

关于这个议题，谭部长在会议上发表了重要看法。

Guānyú zhège yìtí, Tán bùzhǎng zài huìyì shàng fābiǎo le zhòngyào kànfǎ.

Regarding this issue, Minister Tan expressed important views at the meeting.

Related Characters

Component: 覃

潭 簟 蕈 镡 醰 禫 瞫 罈 磹 贉 墰 撢 燂 譚

Component: 讠

说 话 论 认 计 许 设 记 该 让 识 议 证 调

Example Words

奇谭 谭咏麟 天方夜谭 谭嗣同 谭盾