Definition
弹 (tán) covers two main verb senses at HSK4: playing a string/keyboard instrument (e.g., piano, guitar) by pressing or plucking, and flicking/bouncing something (e.g., a ball). For the 'bounce' sense, it differs from 跳 (tiào) and 蹦 (bèng), which refer to a person jumping — 弹 describes an object rebounding from a surface or a quick finger motion.
verb
to play (a stringed or keyboard instrument) by pressing or pluckingto flickto bounceto spring
Easily confused
- 单dānlook-alike(noun) bill; list; form (a written note)
- 谈tánsound-aliketo talk; to discuss
- 探tànsound-aliketo explore; to scout; to reconnoiter
- 摊tānsound-alike(verb) to spread out, to unfold
- 痰tánsound-alikephlegm
- 贪tānsound-alike(verb) to covet, to be greedy for (e.g., money, pleasure)
- 炭tànsound-alikecharcoal (wood charcoal)
- 瘫tānsound-aliketo be paralyzed (of a body part)
- 坛tánsound-alike(noun) platform, rostrum, podium
Examples
- 弹。Tā měitiān tán yí gè xiǎoshí de gāngqín.He plays the piano for an hour every day.
- 弹，。Tā tán le yíxià zhǐ, zhǐ fēi chūqù le.He flicked the paper and it flew off.
- 弹。Qiú tán dào le qiáng shàng.The ball bounced off the wall.
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