淡

• Pinyin: dàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 淡 = 氵(water) + 炎 (flame) — water quenching fire, suggesting dilution

Meaning

Light; bland; pale; thin. Describes something lacking in intensity of flavour, colour, or feeling.

Versatile adjective covering: (1) taste — bland, not salty/sweet enough; (2) colour — pale, light; (3) feelings — indifferent, cool; (4) concentration — diluted, weak. Opposite of 浓 (thick/strong/concentrated). Common in everyday descriptions of food, colour, and emotions.

Examples

1. 这个汤太淡了，你再加点盐吧。 This soup is too bland — add some more salt.
2. 她穿了一件淡蓝色的裙子，看起来很清新。 She wore a light blue dress and looked very fresh.
3. 他对名利看得很淡，只想过简单的生活。 He takes fame and fortune very lightly and just wants to live a simple life.

Usage Guide

Context: food, colour, personality, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 菜太淡了，能加点酱油吗？(The dish is too bland — can you add some soy sauce?)
• 她性格很淡然，从不和别人争。(She has a calm temperament and never argues with others.)

Don't Say

• 用淡来形容食物辣度低 (Don't use 淡 to describe food that isn't spicy — 淡 refers to lack of saltiness or overall flavour intensity; use 不辣 for not spicy)

Origin & History

Composed of 氵(water radical) and 炎 (flame/hot). The juxtaposition of water and fire suggests dilution or neutralisation, hence the meaning of something weak or bland.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal