掸 (dǎn) - To brush lightly & to dust off

掸Tone 3

dǎn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

掸 · dǎn

To brush lightly;

to dust off;

to wipe;

also refers to the Dai ethnic group in China.

To brush lightlyto dust offto wipe

Usage highlights

Dust offBrush lightlyDai peopleDusting clothFeather dusterWipe clean

Synonyms

  • 拂— to brush away; to whisk
  • 扫— to sweep

Antonyms

  • 染— to dye; to stain
  • 污— to dirty; to soil

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She dusted the bookshelf (掸书架).
  • He brushed the snow off his coat (掸掉外套上的雪).
  • The Dai people have a rich culture (掸族有丰富的文化).
  • Please wipe the dust from the table (请掸掉桌子上的灰尘).

Collocations

  • Dust off(掸掉)
  • Brush lightly(轻掸)
  • Dai people(掸族)
  • Dusting cloth(掸布)
  • Feather duster(鸡毛掸子)
  • Wipe clean(掸净)

Idioms

  • None specifically prominent for this character

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character is used to denote the Dai ethnic group, one of China's 56 officially recognized ethnic groups.
  • In everyday usage, it commonly refers to the action of cleaning surfaces by brushing or wiping away dust.
  • The feather duster (鸡毛掸子) is a traditional cleaning tool in Chinese households.

FAQ