坦 tǎn flat
flat; level; smooth; candid; open
How to remember 坦: 土 earth + 旦 dawn = flat. The farmer rakes the earth at dawn until the whole new football field is flat.
Component breakdown
坦 = 土 earth + 旦 dawn
- 土 earth
- 旦 dawn
The farmer rakes the earth at dawn until the whole new football field is flat.
How it is used
- Two senses: physically flat/smooth - 平坦 (píngtǎn) level; and figuratively open/frank - 坦白 (tǎnbái) confess, 坦率 (tǎnshuài) / 坦诚 (tǎnchéng) candid.
- 坦然 (tǎnrán) = calm and untroubled, at peace: 坦然面对 (tǎnrán miànduì) face it with equanimity.
- 坦克 (tǎnkè) = tank is a pure sound-loan and unrelated to these meanings.