敢 (gǎn) — to dare, to be bold enough to (do something)
Definition
敢 is the everyday verb 'to dare' (敢 + verb: 敢说, 敢做), often with 不 to mean 'not dare'. 大胆 is the adjective 'bold'; 敢于 and 勇于 are more formal 'have the courage to'.
verb
to dareto be bold enough to (do something)
Examples
- 敢。Tā gǎn zài dà jiā miàn qián chàng gē.He dares to sing in front of everyone.
- 敢。Wǒ bù gǎn yí gè rén zǒu yè lù.I don't dare to walk alone at night.
- 敢？Nǐ gǎn shì yi shì zhè ge xīn fāng fǎ ma?Do you dare to try this new method?
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
The old form showed a hand using a tool to hunt a wild boar. Later the tool was dropped and another mark was added, and the shape changed into 敢.
Appears in
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