担 meaning and stroke order
To undertake; to carry; to shoulder
How to write 担, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 担
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to undertake
- to carry
- to shoulder
- to take responsibility
- picul (100 catties, 50 kg)
- two buckets full
- carrying pole and its load
- classifier for loads carried on a shoulder pole
How 担 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 旦 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 担
The hand 扌 on the left shows the action of lifting and carrying. The right side 旦 (dàn) gives the sound, so picture a hand shouldering a load at dawn, since 旦 means dawn.
In modern Chinese 担 (dān) appears mostly in compound words about worry and responsibility, such as 担心 (dānxīn), 承担 (chéngdān) and 担任 (dānrèn). Example: 别担心，我会帮你。(Bié dānxīn, wǒ huì bāng nǐ.) Don't worry, I will help you.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 担 with 但 (dàn, but), which has the same right side 旦 but uses the person radical 亻. Remember that 担 is about carrying, so it needs the hand 扌.
Common words with 担
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 担心 | dānxīn | anxious; worried | HSK 4 |
| 承担 | chéngdān | to undertake; to assume (responsibility etc) | HSK 4 |
| 负担 | fùdān | to bear (an expense, a responsibility etc); burden | HSK 4 |
| 担任 | dānrèn | to hold a governmental office or post; to assume office of | HSK 4 |
| 担保 | dānbǎo | to guarantee; to vouch for | HSK 4 |
| 担忧 | dānyōu | to worry; to be concerned | HSK 6 |
| 担当 | dāndāng | to take upon oneself; to assume | HSK 7-9 |
| 分担 | fēndān | to share (a burden, a cost, a responsibility) | HSK 7-9 |
| 担子 | dànzi | carrying pole and the loads on it; burden | HSK 7-9 |
| 担负 | dānfù | to shoulder; to bear | HSK 7-9 |
| 担架 | dānjià | stretcher; litter | |
| 重担 | zhòngdàn | heavy burden; difficult task; great responsibility | |
| 担惊受怕 | dānjīngshòupà | (idiom) apprehensive; alarmed; anxious |
担 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 担
How many strokes are in 担?
担 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 担 mean?
担 (dān) means to undertake; to carry; to shoulder. A common word with it is 担心 (dānxīn), meaning "anxious; worried".
How do you pronounce 担?
担 is pronounced dān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 担?
The radical of 担 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 担 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 担?
The traditional form of 担 is 擔. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 担 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 担 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 担 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
When is 担 pronounced dàn instead of dān?
It is read dàn when it refers to a load carried on a shoulder pole, or as a measure word for such loads, as in 一担水 (yí dàn shuǐ) two buckets of water on a pole. It is also dàn in the noun 重担 (zhòngdàn), a heavy burden. In words like 担心 and 承担 it is dān.
What is the difference between 担心 and 担忧?
Both mean to worry. 担心 (dānxīn) is the everyday word used in speech. 担忧 (dānyōu) is more formal and is common in news and writing about serious concerns.