憚 (dàn) - To fear & to dread

憚Tone 4

dàn ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

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憚 · dàn

To fear;

to dread;

to be afraid of;

to be apprehensive about;

also used to mean to be intimidated or daunted.

To fearto dreadto be afraid of

Usage highlights

Fear nothingDread difficultyBe afraid of hardshipFear to speak outBe intimidated by authorityApprehensive about the future

Synonyms

  • 怕— to fear; to be afraid of
  • 惧— to fear; to dread
  • 畏— to fear; to reverence

Antonyms

  • 勇— brave; courageous
  • 敢— dare; bold

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He fears nothing (无所惮).
  • She is apprehensive about the upcoming exam (惮考试).
  • They were daunted by the difficult task (惮难).
  • One should not fear to speak the truth (不惮直言).

Collocations

  • Fear nothing(无所惮)
  • Dread difficulty(惮难)
  • Be afraid of hardship(惮劳)
  • Fear to speak out(惮言)
  • Be intimidated by authority(惮权)
  • Apprehensive about the future(惮未来)

Idioms

  • Fear neither hardship nor death(不惮艰险)
  • Not afraid to speak bluntly(直言不惮)
  • Dreaded by all(人皆惮之)
  • Fear neither hardship nor danger(不惮艰难)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character reflects traditional values of courage and speaking truth to power, as seen in classical texts.
  • In Confucian context, it can imply a proper respect or awe towards superiors or difficult tasks, not merely irrational fear.
  • Used in historical texts to describe the psychological state of officials or individuals facing authority or moral dilemmas.

FAQ