淡然 (dàn rán) — indifferent, unruffled, calmly detached

Definition

Describes a calm, unruffled emotional stance toward things that would normally affect one — indifferent without being hostile. Often used for how someone handles setbacks, praise, or criticism.

adjective
indifferentunruffledcalmly detached

Examples

  • 淡然。
    Tā duì míng lì shí fēn dàn rán.
    He is very indifferent to fame and fortune.
  • ，淡然。
    Miàn duì shī bài, tā dàn rán yí xiào.
    Facing failure, she gave a faint, indifferent smile.
  • ，淡然。
    Wú lùn bié rén zěn me shuō, tā dōu dàn rán chǔ zhī.
    No matter what others say, he deals with it with calm indifference.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

淡dàncalm/indifferent
然ránstate

淡 supplies the sense of calm detachment, and 然 completes it into a state or manner.

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.

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.

Open 淡 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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