担 (dàn) — (noun) a load carried on a shoulder pole; a burden; (classifier) used for loads carried on a shoulder pole
Definition
Here 担 (dàn) is a noun and classifier for a load carried on a shoulder pole — a concrete, physical thing. The abstract 'burden, responsibility' sense usually appears as the compound 担子.
noun
a load carried on a shoulder polea burden
classifier
used for loads carried on a shoulder pole
Measure word · 担
Examples
- 担。Tā měi tiān tiāo liǎng dàn shuǐ qù tián lǐ.He carries two loads of water to the fields every day.
- 担，。Zhè dàn huò wù tài zhòng le, wǒ tiāo bú dòng.This load of goods is too heavy; I can't carry it.
- 担？Yí dàn mǐ yǒu duō shǎo jīn?How many jin are in one load of rice?
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.
In 担, the left part 扌 is the hand, showing that the action involves using the hand. The right part 旦 shows how it sounds.
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