攤 (tān) - To spread out & to lay out

攤Tone 1

tān ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

攤 · tān

To spread out;

to lay out;

to set up (a stall);

to apportion;

to take a share in;

a stall or stand.

To spread outto lay outto set up (a stall)

Usage highlights

Street stallTo set up a stallTo share costsNewsstandFood stallTo spread out

Synonyms

  • 铺— to spread out; a shop
  • 摆— to arrange; to put on display
  • 分— to divide; to share

Antonyms

  • 收— to gather; to collect
  • 聚— to gather; to assemble

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He set up a street stall (摆摊).
  • Please spread out the documents on the table (把文件摊在桌上).
  • The cost will be shared equally among everyone (费用大家分摊).
  • There is a newsstand at the corner (街角有个书报摊).

Collocations

  • Street stall(摊贩)
  • To set up a stall(摆摊)
  • To share costs(分摊)
  • Newsstand(书摊)
  • Food stall(小吃摊)
  • To spread out(摊开)

Idioms

  • To lay all the cards on the table(摊牌)
  • To share the losses(摊亏)
  • A mess too troublesome to deal with(烂摊子)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Associated with traditional street markets and small-scale commerce in Chinese societies.
  • The character embodies the concept of distribution, both in terms of physical spreading and cost/responsibility sharing.
  • Historically linked to itinerant merchants and market culture.

FAQ