叹 tàn to sigh
to sigh; to admire
怎么记住“叹”: 口 mouth + 又 again = to sigh. At the museum Grandpa covers his mouth again before the huge painting and can only stand there to sigh.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 口 + 歎
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
叹 = 口 mouth + 又 again
- 口 mouth meaning
- 又 again shape only
At the museum Grandpa covers his mouth again before the huge painting and can only stand there to sigh.
How it came to be
The mouth gives the meaning; the simplified form writes the long sound part of the full form as the short sign for again.
用法
- To sigh, from sorrow or admiration: 叹气 (tànqì) to sigh, 感叹 (gǎntàn) to sigh with emotion, 赞叹 (zàntàn) to marvel admiringly.
- Note the two poles: 叹气 = a sigh of frustration/sadness; 惊叹/赞叹 = gasping in admiration. Context sets the mood.
- 叹为观止 (tànwéi-guānzhǐ) = to be so impressed you can only sigh in wonder.