胆 dǎn gallbladder
gallbladder; courage
How to remember 胆: 月 meat + 旦 dawn = gallbladder. The doctor says no more fatty meat for grandpa, who wakes at dawn with a sharp pain in his gallbladder.
Component breakdown
胆 = 月 meat + 旦 dawn
- 月 meat
- 旦 dawn
The doctor says no more fatty meat for grandpa, who wakes at dawn with a sharp pain in his gallbladder.
How it is used
- 胆 literally means 'gallbladder' but is used metaphorically for courage/nerve, much like English 'guts.'
- 大胆 dàdǎn (bold/daring) and 胆小 dǎnxiǎo (timid, literally 'small-gallbladder') are opposites built the same way - 胆小鬼 dǎnxiǎoguǐ is the common insult 'coward.'
- 胆量 dǎnliàng is the noun for 'nerve/courage': 没有胆量 (méiyǒu dǎnliàng) - to lack the nerve (to do something risky).
- 提心吊胆 tíxīn-diàodǎn is a vivid idiom for being on edge with worry, literally 'heart raised, gallbladder hanging.'