胆子

• Pinyin: dǎn zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 胆 = 月 + 旦 (gallbladder, symbolic of courage); 子 = noun suffix

Meaning

Courage; nerve; the capacity to face danger or difficulty without fear.

An informal, everyday term for personal courage or daring. Can be used positively (describing bravery) or negatively (accusing someone of recklessness). Also used to comment on whether someone dares to do something questionable.

Examples

1. 他胆子很大，一个人深夜走进了废弃的工厂。 He’s very bold—he walked into an abandoned factory alone late at night.
2. 你有胆子提意见，就要有胆子承担相应的后果。 If you’ve got the nerve to speak up, you should also have the nerve to take the consequences that come with it.
3. 这孩子胆子小，见到陌生人就躲到大人身后。 This child is timid; whenever they see a stranger, they hide behind an adult.

Usage Guide

Context: character, everyday speech, criticism

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你要放大胆子，别什么事都往后缩。(You need to be bolder — don't shrink away from everything.)
• 他胆子不小，敢当众质疑领导的决定。(He has real nerve — he dared to publicly question the leader's decision.)

Don't Say

• 他的胆子很勇敢 — 胆子 is a noun, not modified by 勇敢; say 他很有胆子 or 他胆子很大 instead

Origin & History

胆 (gallbladder, courage) + 子 (noun suffix)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal