耽 dān to indulge
to indulge; to delay
How to remember 耽: 耳 ear + 冘 shoulder load = to indulge. With headphones on each ear and a shoulder load of homework waiting, the teenager stays on the sofa, happy to indulge in one more song.
Component breakdown
耽 = 耳 ear + 冘 shoulder load
- 耳 ear
- 冘 shoulder load
With headphones on each ear and a shoulder load of homework waiting, the teenager stays on the sofa, happy to indulge in one more song.
How it is used
- To delay/hold up - 耽误 (dānwu) to delay/hold up/cause to miss: 耽误时间 to waste time, 耽误了火车 missed the train because of a delay.
- 耽搁 (dānge) = to delay/tarry: 路上耽搁了 got held up on the way.
- 耽误 stresses the harm of delay (making someone miss/lose out); 耽搁 is more neutral 'to linger.'
- Literary 耽 = to indulge/be absorbed in (耽于幻想 lost in fantasy).