檀 (tán) — sandalwood
Definition
noun
sandalwood
Measure word · 块
Examples
- 。Zhè bǎ tán mù shàn zi zuò gōng hěn jīng zhì.This sandalwood fan is exquisitely made.
- 。Tā shōu cáng le yí tào tán mù jiā jù.He has a collection of sandalwood furniture.
- ，。Fáng jiān lǐ diǎn zháo tán xiāng, qì wèi hěn ān shén.Sandalwood incense is burning in the room, and the scent is very calming.
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.
Sound part声符shēngfú
亶
亶dǎn檀tán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
檀 combines 木, tree or wood, with 亶, which points to its sound.
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