淡 dàn watery
watery; dilute; weak; indifferent
How to remember 淡: 氵 water + 炎 inflammation = watery. The nurse pours extra water into the soup for the patient with a throat inflammation, and he groans that it tastes watery.
Component breakdown
淡 = 氵 water + 炎 inflammation
- 氵 water
- 炎 inflammation
The nurse pours extra water into the soup for the patient with a throat inflammation, and he groans that it tastes watery.
How it is used
- Basic sense is watery, weak, or bland - of flavor (菜太淡了 cài tài dàn le "the dish is too bland/under-salted"), color, or smell - and its direct antonym is 浓 nóng, 浓咖啡 (nóng kāfēi) strong coffee.
- Extends to describe indifferent or cool attitudes: 冷淡 lěngdàn "cold/aloof" toward a person, and 平淡 píngdàn "flat, uneventful" (a plain life or story).
- 淡季 dànjì (off season/low season) is a fixed business term, paired with 旺季 wàngjì (peak season).