坦白 (tǎn bái) means 'honest, forthcoming' as an adjective, especially about one's own faults, and 'to confess' as a verb (e.g., to a crime). It differs from 坦诚 (tǎn chéng 'candid, sincere') and 坦率 (tǎn shuài 'frank, outspoken'), which describe a general openness in character or speech rather than admitting wrongdoing. As a verb, it overlaps with 交代 (jiāo dài 'to confess, to explain'), but 坦白 is stronger and more specific to confessing guilt.