旦 dàn dawn
dawn; day; morning
How it came to be
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
The oldest form has the sun above a solid block that gives the sound; the block later shrank to a line.
用法
- Bound character, rarely stands alone.
- 一旦 yídàn functions as a conditional connector meaning "once/in the event that": 一旦发现问题就要报告 "once a problem is found, report it right away."
- 元旦 Yuándàn "New Year's Day" (Jan 1, solar calendar) is distinct from 春节 Chūnjié, the Lunar New Year.