淡淡 (dàn dàn) — (of taste) light, mild, not strong; (of color)… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A reduplicated bound form meaning 'light' or 'indifferent' — the repeated 淡 softens the quality. Pairs with 的 after a noun to modify taste, color, or attitude.

bound form

(of taste) lightmildnot strong(of color) lightpale(of attitude) indifferentcold

Examples

，。
Zhè bēi chá wèi dào dàn dàn de, hěn shì hé xià tiān hē.
This cup of tea has a light taste, perfect for summer.
，。
Tā chuān le jiàn dàn dàn de lán sè lián yī qún, kàn qǐ lái hěn yōu yǎ.
She wore a light blue dress that looked very elegant.
，。
Tā duì zhè jiàn shì de tài dù dàn dàn de, sì hū bìng bù guān xīn.
His attitude toward this matter was indifferent, as if he didn't really care.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

The doubled 淡淡 gives a light, pale, or indifferent quality.

Characters in this word

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

氵炎淡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

炎

炎yán淡dàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

淡 puts 氵 (water) beside 炎, which gives the sound yán.

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

氵炎淡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

炎

炎yán淡dàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

淡 puts 氵 (water) beside 炎, which gives the sound yán.

Appears in

Flavors & Seasonings

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