单 dān single
single; list; bill; form
How it came to be
The full form is a hunting weapon: a forked stick with a weight at each prong and a cord between, thrown to tangle a bird's legs. Borrowed for single and alone.
How it is used
- Single/alone - 单身 (dānshēn) single (unmarried), 单独 (dāndú) alone/separately, 单一 (dānyī) sole.
- Second job: a form/list/bill - 菜单 (càidān) menu, 名单 (míngdān) name list, 账单 (zhàngdān) bill.
- 单位 (dānwèi) means 'unit' - both a measurement unit and one's work unit/employer.
- Opposite of 双 (shuāng, double/pair): 单数 (dānshù) odd number, 单程 (dānchéng) one-way trip - 双数 (shuāngshù) even number.
Characters built with 单
Words with 单
- 简单jiǎndānsimpleHSK 3
- 菜单càidānmenuHSK 3
- 名单míngdānlist of namesHSK 3
- 单位dānwèiunit (of measure)HSK 4
- 单一dānyīsingleHSK 5
- 单元dānyuánunit (forming an entity)HSK 5
- 单独dāndúaloneHSK 5
- 床单chuángdānbed sheetHSK 5
- 下单xiàdānto place an orderHSK 6
- 单纯dānchúnsimpleHSK 6
- 单调dāndiàomonotonousHSK 6
- 订单dìngdānorderHSK 6
- 账单zhàngdānbillHSK 6
- 传单chuándānleafletHSK 7
- 单价dānjiàunit priceHSK 7
- 单方面dānfāngmiànunilateralHSK 7
- 单身dānshēnunmarriedHSK 7
- 单边dānbiānunilateralHSK 7
- 清单qīngdānlist of itemsHSK 7
- 黑名单hēimíngdānblacklistHSK 7
- 单薄dānbóweakHSK 8
- 孤单gūdānloneHSK 8
Example sentences
- 请给我看菜单。 Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn càidān.Please let me see the menu.
- 这些房子的结构很简单。 Zhèixiē fángzi de jiégòu hěn jiǎndān.The structure of these houses is very simple.