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簞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
簞dāna small bamboo basket for ricezg, 18 strokes, radical ⺮
dān(dan1) T1
  1. 1a small bamboo basket for rice
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March 24, 2026

簞dān(dan1)

簞 (dān) refers to a small bamboo basket traditionally used for holding rice. This character is often associated with simplicity and practicality in Chinese culture, reflecting the agricultural roots of society. While it is not commonly used in everyday conversation today, it appears in literary contexts and discussions about traditional Chinese food storage.

Strokes18Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In ancient China, baskets like the 簞 played a crucial role in daily life and were often used during festivals and family gatherings. They symbolize the connection to agricultural practices and the importance of rice as a staple food in Chinese cuisine.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small, delicate bamboo basket (簞) shaped like a cozy home for rice. The character's radical '竹' (bamboo) hints at its material, while the sound 'dān' can be remembered by thinking of a 'dandy' rice basket that keeps your rice neatly stored.

Meanings of 簞

dān(dan1)
1a small bamboo basket for rice
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 簞

簞Simplified
18Strokes
⺮Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 簞

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Podcast: 簞

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AI Study Notes for 簞

Usage Notes

簞 is relatively formal and may not be commonly used in modern vernacular. When using this word, be aware of the context and consider collocations related to traditional food or agricultural practices. Learners should also watch out for tone mispronunciations, as 'dān' is a first tone word and should be spoken with a high, level pitch.

HSK Study Tips

Since 簞 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on related terms such as '米' (rice) and '篮' (basket) to build contextual understanding. This character can enhance vocabulary related to food and traditional items, which are often useful in cultural discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 簞 with similar characters such as 篮 (lán), which means 'basket' in a more general sense. It's important to remember that 簞 specifically refers to a bamboo basket used for rice, while 篮 can refer to any type of basket.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 簞

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Etymology of 簞

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)單
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

簞 = ⺮ + 單. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 簞

IDS Structure⿱⺮單
簞Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
單dan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 簞?

How to say a small bamboo basket for rice in Chinese

“a small bamboo basket for rice” in Chinese is簞dān

簞 (dān) refers to a small bamboo basket traditionally used for holding rice. This character is often associated with simplicity and practicality in Chinese culture, reflecting the agricultural roots of society. While it is not commonly used in everyday conversation today, it appears in literary contexts and discussions about traditional Chinese food storage.

When to use 簞

簞 is relatively formal and may not be commonly used in modern vernacular. When using this word, be aware of the context and consider collocations related to traditional food or agricultural practices. Learners should also watch out for tone mispronunciations, as 'dān' is a first tone word and should be spoken with a high, level pitch.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 簞 with similar characters such as 篮 (lán), which means 'basket' in a more general sense. It's important to remember that 簞 specifically refers to a bamboo basket used for rice, while 篮 can refer to any type of basket.

Write 簞

簞

Practice writing 簞 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 簞

Words Containing This Character2
箪dānround basket for cooked rice簞
箪食壶浆to give troops a hearty welcome簞食壺漿
Exercise 1 of 2

Characters with 簞

What does 箪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 簞

簞 represents traditional food storage methods, especially in agricultural societies where rice was a staple. It reflects a lifestyle closely tied to farming and food preservation.

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