忐

tǎn
上 + 心

Definitions

tǎn used in 忐忑[tǎn tè]

Etymology

A weight on 上 the heart 心

About

The character 忐 combines 上 (shàng, "above") over 心 (xīn, "heart"), visually depicting a heart raised upward. This structure symbolizes a state of nervousness or mental unease. It is used almost exclusively in the paired expression 忐忑 (tǎntè) to describe the physiological sensation of a palpitating heart or a restless mind. The top-heavy composition acts as a spatial metaphor for feeling unsettled, as if one's inner state has been displaced from its natural, centered position by fear or uncertainty.

Example Sentences Hide

他心里很忐忑。

Tā xīnlǐ hěn tǎntè.

He feels very uneasy.

我忐忑地等待结果。

Wǒ tǎntè de děngdài jiéguǒ.

I anxiously wait for the result.

考试前他感到忐忑不安。

Kǎoshì qián tā gǎndào tǎntè bù'ān.

Before the exam, he felt anxious and uneasy.

听到这个消息，她心中忐忑起来。

Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi, tā xīnzhōng tǎntè qǐlái.

Upon hearing this news, she became uneasy in her heart.

面对未知的未来，我们都不免忐忑。

Miànduì wèizhī de wèilái, wǒmen dōu bùmiǎn tǎntè.

Facing the unknown future, we all inevitably feel anxious.

他忐忑地走进办公室，担心被批评。

Tā tǎntè de zǒujìn bàngōngshì, dānxīn bèi pīpíng.

He walked into the office uneasily, worried about being criticized.

尽管准备充分，但演讲前他仍感到些许忐忑。

Jǐnguǎn zhǔnbèi chōngfèn, dàn yǎnjiǎng qián tā réng gǎndào xiēxǔ tǎntè.

Although he was well-prepared, he still felt a bit anxious before the speech.

在做出重大决定时，内心的忐忑是难以避免的。

Zài zuòchū zhòngdà juédìng shí, nèixīn de tǎntè shì nányǐ bìmiǎn de.

When making a major decision, inner anxiety is hard to avoid.

Related Characters

Component: 上

让 卡 尗

Component: 心

心 想 意 总 感 必 思 怎 息 念 态 志 愿 急

Example Words

忐忑 忐忑不安