坍 (tān) — to collapse; to cave in

Definition

坍 is a formal/written verb for structures or earth collapsing or caving in (walls, houses, mountains). It does not describe people fainting — for that use 晕.

verb
to collapseto cave in
Easily confused

Examples

  • 坍。
    Nà zuò lǎo jiù de wēi fáng zài bào fēng yǔ zhōng tū rán tān le.
    That old dangerous house suddenly collapsed in the storm.
  • 坍，。
    Dì zhèn dǎo zhì shān tǐ tān xiàn, zǔ sè le jiāo tōng.
    The earthquake caused the mountain to cave in, blocking traffic.
  • ，坍。
    Suí zhe dì jī xià chén, nà miàn qiáng yǐ jīng kāi shǐ tān liè.
    As the foundation subsided, that wall began to crack and collapse.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
丹
丹dān坍tān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

坍 is made from 土 (earth) and 丹; 土 carries the sense, and 丹 supplies the sound.

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