Definition
炭 (tàn) can mean either 'charcoal' (made from wood, used for grilling or drawing) or 'coal' (a natural fuel). Its sibling 煤 (méi) refers only to mineral coal, while 煤炭 (méi tàn) is a more formal, technical term for coal as a resource. Context determines which sense is intended.
noun
charcoal (wood charcoal)coal
Easily confused
- 灰huīlook-alike(noun) ash; dust; lime (powdery substance)
- 谈tánsound-aliketo talk; to discuss
- 炼liànlook-aliketo refine (skills, writing, etc.)
- 探tànsound-aliketo explore; to scout; to reconnoiter
- 弹tánsound-aliketo play (a stringed or keyboard instrument) by pressing or plucking
- 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)
- 瘫tānsound-aliketo be paralyzed (of a body part)
- 坛tánsound-alike(noun) platform, rostrum, podium
Examples
- 炭。Zhè jiā shāokǎo diàn yòng tàn kǎo yángròu chuàn.This barbecue place uses charcoal to grill lamb skewers.
- 炭。Běifāng nóngcūn dōngtiān cháng shāo tàn qǔnuǎn.In northern villages, people often burn coal for warmth in winter.
- 炭。Tā yòng tàn huà le yì fú xiàoxiàng huà.He drew a portrait with charcoal.
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