贪 (tān) — (verb) to covet, to be greedy for (e.g., money, pleasure); (adjective) greedy; corrupt
Definition
贪 is both a verb ('to covet, be greedy for') and an adjective ('greedy; corrupt'), used broadly for money, power, or advantages — lighter than the strongly negative 贪污 (to embezzle), and not limited to food like 馋.
verb
to covetto be greedy for (e.g., money, pleasure)
adjective
greedycorrupt
Examples
- 。Tā cóng lái bù tān tú xiǎo pián yi.He never covets small advantages.
- 贪，。Zhè ge lǎo bǎn tài tān le, yuán gōng dōu shòu bù liǎo.This boss is too greedy; the employees can't stand it.
- 。Dǎ jī tān guān shì fǎn fǔ de zhòng diǎn.Cracking down on corrupt officials is a key part of the anti-corruption effort.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 貪; 贪 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèimoney
Sound part声符shēngfú
今
今jīn貪tān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 貪 places 今 (open mouth) above 貝 (money); 今 gives the sound, and 貝 relates to the meaning. 贪 is the simplified shorthand.
Appears in
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