Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
滩(灘)tān(tan1)
The character 滩 (tān) refers to a beach, shoal, or sandbar, often associated with shallow water areas. It can describe a variety of environments where water meets land, such as riverbanks or coastal regions. Commonly used in geographical contexts, this term evokes imagery of leisure and natural beauty.
Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#9298DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, beaches and rivers are often seen as places for relaxation and family outings, especially during festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival, where people enjoy activities near water.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'tan' (sounds like 'tān') where you relax on a beach. The water '滩' is shallow and calm, perfect for a peaceful day. Visualize the waves gently lapping at the 'sand' (the '水' radical) as you relax on the shores.
Meanings of 滩
tān(tan1)
1beach
2shoal
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 滩
滩Simplified
灘Traditional
13Strokes
氵Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#9298Frequency Rank
片Measure Word
Podcast: 滩
Podcast: 滩
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 滩
Quick Contrast
沙滩 (shātān, sandy beach) vs 滩 (tān, shoal) — use 沙滩 when specifically referring to a sandy beach, while 滩 can refer to any shallow water area.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'tan' (sounds like 'tān') where you relax on a beach. The water '滩' is shallow and calm, perfect for a peaceful day. Visualize the waves gently lapping at the 'sand' (the '水' radical) as you relax on the shores.
Usage Notes
滩 is typically used in informal contexts, especially when discussing nature or travel. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters like '贪' (tān), which means greedy. Common collocations include '沙滩' (shātān) meaning 'sand beach' and '江滩' (jiāngtān) meaning 'riverbank.'
HSK Study Tips
While 滩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can enhance understanding of water-related terms. Students should focus on its usage in context with related terms like '海' (hǎi, sea) and '河' (hé, river) to build a cohesive vocabulary around water features.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, beaches and rivers are often seen as places for relaxation and family outings, especially during festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival, where people enjoy activities near water.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滩 with '滩' (tān) and '贪' (tān). For example, saying '我喜欢贪海边' (I like being greedy by the seaside) instead of '我喜欢滩海边' (I like the beach). Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct term.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滩
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 滩 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 滩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 滩
滩 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这艘船停靠在细沙____上。
The ship has come to rest on the fine sand.
Common Confusions with 滩
滩vs潭
tán
Different character with a similar phonetic sound but refers to a deep water area.
Schools regularly bring children to the beach for natural history lessons.
9
英国许多海滩连最起码的卫生标准都达不倒。
yīng guó xǔ duō hǎi tān lián zuì qǐ mǎ de wèi shēng biāo zhǔn dū dá bù dǎo。
Many of Britain's beaches fail to meet minimum standards of cleanliness.
10
伊萨的白色沙滩帽在刺眼的阳光下闪闪发亮。
yī sà de bái sè shā tān mào zài cì yǎn de yáng guāng xià shǎn shǎn fā liàng。
Issa's white beach hat gleamed in the harsh lights.
Cultural Notes for 滩
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, beaches and rivers are often seen as places for relaxation and family outings, especially during festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival, where people enjoy activities near water.
Word Family of 滩
Words Containing This Character15
海滩hǎitānbeach海灘
沙滩shātānbeach沙灘
滩tānbeach灘
外滩the Shanghai Bund or Waitan外灘
滩涂mudflat灘塗
抢滩to seize a beachhead搶灘
河滩river bank河灘
浅滩shallows淺灘
戈壁滩Gobi desert戈壁灘
河漫滩floodplain河漫灘
冷水滩区Lengshuitan district of Yongzhou city 永州市[Yǒngzhōushì], Hunan冷水灘區
盐滩salt flats鹽灘
冷水滩Lengshuitan district of Yongzhou city 永州市[Yǒngzhōushì], Hunan冷水灘
沿滩区Yantan district of Zigong city 自貢市|自贡市[Zìgòngshì], Sichuan沿灘區
白碱滩区Baijiantan district (Uighur: Jerenbulaq Rayoni) of Qaramay City 克拉瑪依市|克拉玛依市[Kèlāmǎyīshì], Xinjiang白鹼灘區
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 海滩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 滩
沙滩 (shātān) specifically means 'sand beach,' while 滩 (tān) refers more generally to a beach or shoal, which can include areas that aren't sandy.
Yes, 滩 can describe riverbanks, especially in contexts where the water is shallow.
滩 is generally informal and often used in conversational contexts.
