攀谈 (pān tán) — to strike up a conversation, to engage in chitchat (often with a stranger or in a social context)

Definition

Literally 'climb + talk': to make the first move and start chatting with someone you don't know. Often pairs with 起来 (攀谈起来) to mark the start of the conversation.

verb
to strike up a conversationto engage in chitchat (often with a stranger or in a social context)

Examples

  • ，攀谈。
    Zài huǒ chē shàng, tā zhǔ dòng gēn páng biān de chéng kè pān tán qǐ lái.
    On the train, he proactively struck up a conversation with the passenger next to him.
  • ，攀谈。
    Tā men suī rán bú rèn shi, dàn zài pài duì shàng pān tán le jǐ jù.
    Even though they didn't know each other, they chatted a bit at the party.
  • 攀谈。
    Tā bú tài shàn cháng gēn mò shēng rén pān tán.
    He's not very good at striking up conversations with strangers.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
樊
樊fán攀
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

攀 pairs 手 (hand) with 樊, which gives its sound.

Open 攀 →

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 談; 谈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
炎
炎yán談tán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 谈, the traditional form 談 pairs 言 (speech) with 炎 (yán) as the sound part.

Open 谈 →

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