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赞叹 (zàn tàn) — to exclaim in admiration

Definition

Focuses on the verbal, often involuntary reaction of exclaiming in awe at something striking. 赞赏 and 赞美 are more about expressing praise and approval; 惊叹 emphasizes surprise rather than admiration.

verb
to exclaim in admiration

Examples

  • ，赞叹。
    Kàn dào zhè fú huà, tā rěn bú zhù lián shēng zàn tàn.
    Seeing this painting, he couldn't help exclaiming in admiration repeatedly.
  • 赞叹。
    Guān zhòng duì yǎn yuán de jīng cǎi biǎo yǎn zàn tàn bù yǐ.
    The audience couldn't stop exclaiming in admiration at the actors' brilliant performance.
  • 赞叹。
    Dà jiā zàn tàn dà zì rán de shén qí yǔ měi lì.
    Everyone exclaimed in admiration at the wonder and beauty of nature.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

赞zànpraise
叹tànexclaim

赞 praise and 叹 exclaim combine to mean express admiration with a cry.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 贊; 赞 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 赞 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (称赞, 赞赏) it is 讚; in others (赞成, 赞同) it is 贊.

  • 㚘㚘㚘
  • 貝貝bèimoney

This note is about the traditional form 贊. It pairs 㚘 with 貝 (money) for helping with money; the simplified 赞 is a shorthand.

Open 赞 →

Most 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 嘆; 叹 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 叹 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words it is 嘆; in others it is 歎.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
歎
歎tàn嘆tàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 嘆 pairs 口 (mouth) with 歎 as the sound part; it shows a mouth letting out a sigh.

Open 叹 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Emotions & Feelings

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