旦

usually supplies the sound dàn/tǎn · Character component

usually supplies the sound dàn/tǎn, and in a few characters the sense of dawn or daybreak

The old graph shows the sun, 日, with a single stroke beneath it standing for the horizon or the ground, so the sun is just clearing the edge of the earth at daybreak. The modern shape keeps that picture exactly: a square sun sitting on a flat line. In most characters here it works as a sound hint rather than a meaning hint, giving readings like dàn in 但, tǎn in 坦 and 袒, dá in 怛 and 靼. In a few others, such as 得, 量 and 查, the 旦-like shape is only an accident of later simplification and has nothing to do with the sun.

旦 at a glance

Meaning

usually supplies the sound dàn/tǎn

Strokes

5

Characters

21

Role

Usually contributes sound

Characters with 旦 (20 of 21)

Frequently asked questions