擔 meaning and stroke order
To bear, to carry; burden, responsibility
How to write 擔, stroke by stroke
16 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 擔
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 擔 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 詹 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 擔
擔 combines the hand radical 扌 with 詹 (zhān), which gives the sound. Picture a hand gripping a shoulder pole to carry a heavy load, and the sound 詹 reminds you it is read dān.
In the dān reading, 擔 means to carry or to take on a duty, and it appears in many common words like 擔心 (dānxīn, to worry) and 承擔 (chéngdān, to undertake). The simplified form 担 is used in mainland China, so the word lists show 担. Example: 別擔心，我來處理。(Bié dānxīn, wǒ lái chǔlǐ.) Don't worry, I'll handle it.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 擔 with 膽 (dǎn, gallbladder, courage), which shares the same phonetic 詹 but uses the flesh radical 月. Another trap is the noun reading dàn, as in 重擔 (zhòngdàn, heavy burden), which many learners wrongly read in the first tone.
Common words with 擔
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 擔心 | dānxīn | anxious; worried | HSK 4 |
| 承擔 | chéngdān | to undertake; to assume (responsibility etc) | HSK 4 |
| 負擔 | fùdān | to bear (an expense, a responsibility etc); burden | HSK 4 |
| 擔任 | dānrèn | to hold a governmental office or post; to assume office of | HSK 4 |
| 擔保 | dānbǎo | to guarantee; to vouch for | HSK 4 |
| 擔憂 | dānyōu | to worry; to be concerned | HSK 6 |
| 擔當 | dāndāng | to take upon oneself; to assume | HSK 7-9 |
| 分擔 | fēndān | to share (a burden, a cost, a responsibility) | HSK 7-9 |
| 擔子 | dànzi | carrying pole and the loads on it; burden | HSK 7-9 |
| 擔負 | dānfù | to shoulder; to bear | HSK 7-9 |
| 擔架 | dānjià | stretcher; litter | |
| 重擔 | zhòngdàn | heavy burden; difficult task; great responsibility | |
| 擔驚受怕 | dānjīngshòupà | (idiom) apprehensive; alarmed; anxious |
Questions about 擔
How many strokes are in 擔?
擔 is written with 16 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 擔 mean?
擔 (dān) means to bear, to carry; burden, responsibility. A common word with it is 担心 (dānxīn), meaning "anxious; worried".
How do you pronounce 擔?
擔 is pronounced dān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 擔?
The radical of 擔 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 擔 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 擔?
擔 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 担, used in mainland China and Singapore.
When is 擔 pronounced dàn instead of dān?
It is read dàn when it is a noun for a load carried on a shoulder pole, or a classifier for such loads, as in 一擔水 (yí dàn shuǐ, two buckets of water on a pole). As a verb meaning to carry or take responsibility, it is dān.
What is the difference between 擔心 and 擔憂?
Both mean to worry. 擔心 (dānxīn) is everyday and conversational, while 擔憂 (dānyōu) sounds more formal and is common in news and writing about serious concerns.