Chinese word

弹

Pronunciation

Pinyintán

Meaning

  • verbplay

Example

我会弹钢琴。wǒ huì tán gāng qín

I can play the piano.

Illustration for 弹 (play)

More examples

演出开始前，他在后台弹了一段练习曲。yǎn chū kāi shǐ qián tā zài hòu tái tán le yí duàn liàn xí qǔ

Before the show started, he played an etude backstage.

Core concept

A quick release of pressure makes a string sound or makes an object shoot, spring, or return.

Common phrases

  • 弹钢琴tán gāng qín

    play the piano

  • 弹吉他tán jí tā

    play the guitar

  • 弹古筝tán gǔ zhēng

    play the guzheng

Similar words

演奏yǎn zòu: Presenting a piece of music through an instrument or the voice.
拉lā: Making a string instrument sound by drawing a bow or pulling its strings by hand.

Definition in Chinese

用手指或工具拨动弦或按动键盘使乐器发出声音。yòng shóu zhǐ huò gōng jù bō dòng xián huò àn dòng jiàn pán shǐ yuè qì fā chū shēng yīn

Word origin

The character 弹 (tán, "to pluck or play") combines 弓 (gōng, "bow") + 单 (dān, "single"), with 弓 marking tension and release and 单 mainly supplying the sound.

Usage tips

  • In everyday instrument talk, the instrument name often follows this verb, while a violin provides a useful contrast because Chinese normally uses a different verb for bowing.

Other meanings

  • bulletnoun
  • bounceverb

Related words

Word lists with this word