担

擔
dān
#719 most
frequent character
measure word for goods carried on a shoulder pole
Measure Word

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

担 pairs 扌 hand with 旦 dàn, which supplies the sound, and first meant carrying something slung on a pole over the shoulder. From that it grew to carrying in general, then to a duty you bear. Read dàn, it names the load itself.

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Example Sentences

他肩上扛着两个担。
tā jiānshàng káng zháo liǎng gè dān 。
He is carrying two loads on his shoulder.
这个担太重了，我搬不动。
zhègè dān tàizhòng le ， wǒ bān bùdòng 。
This load is too heavy, I can't move it.
在市场上，很多人用担来搬运货物。
zài shìchǎng shàng ， hěnduō rén yòng dān lái bānyùn huòwù 。
In the market, many people use shoulder poles to transport goods.

Same Characters, Different Readings

担dàn
picul (100 catties, 50 kg)

Homophones

单dān
single, odd, unlined, thin, weak
丹dān
red, pellet, powder, cinnabar

Words Starting With 担

担心dān xīn
anxious; worried; uneasy; to worry; to be anxious
担任dān rèn
to hold a governmental office or post; to assume office of; to take charge of; to serve as
担保dān bǎo
to guarantee; to vouch for

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