丹 (dān) - cinnabar, vermilion, red & sincere, loyal

丹Tone 1

dān ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 丶

橙丁

丹 · dān

cinnabar, vermilion, red;

sincere, loyal;

elixir, pill;

used in names to denote beauty, virtue, or preciousness.

cinnabar, vermilion, redsincere, loyalelixir, pill

Usage highlights

cinnabarvermilionloyal heartelixir of lifered cloudspill

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The alchemist refined the elixir (丹药).
  • She wore a vermilion dress (丹色 dress).
  • He showed great loyalty (丹心).
  • This is a precious pill (丹丸).

Collocations

  • cinnabar(丹砂)
  • vermilion(丹色)
  • loyal heart(丹心)
  • elixir of life(丹药)
  • red clouds(丹霞)
  • pill(丹丸)

Idioms

  • A loyal heart as bright as cinnabar(丹心如丹)
  • Blue blood comes from a cinnabar heart(碧血丹心)
  • Refining cinnabar for immortality(炼丹)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese alchemy, cinnabar (丹砂) was a key ingredient in the quest for immortality, leading to the term 炼丹 (elixir refining).
  • 丹心 (red heart) symbolizes utmost loyalty and sincerity, as cinnabar's red color was seen as pure and unchangeable.
  • 丹 is a popular character in female names, evoking beauty (like cinnabar's red) and virtue (sincerity).

FAQ