袒 (tǎn) - To bare & to expose

袒Tone 3

tǎn ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

袒 · tǎn

To bare;

to expose;

to strip;

to leave uncovered;

to be partial to;

to take sides with.

To bareto exposeto strip

Usage highlights

Bare the chestTake sides withExpose the armsBare the shoulderLeft side baringRight side baring

Synonyms

  • 露— to expose; to reveal
  • 敞— to open wide; uncovered

Antonyms

  • 遮— to cover; to hide
  • 蔽— to cover; to conceal
  • 藏— to hide; to conceal

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He bared his chest (袒胸).
  • The lawyer defended the accused (袒护被告).
  • She exposed her arms in the summer heat (袒露双臂).
  • The statue has a bare shoulder (袒肩).

Collocations

  • Bare the chest(袒胸)
  • Take sides with(袒护)
  • Expose the arms(袒臂)
  • Bare the shoulder(袒肩)
  • Left side baring(左袒)
  • Right side baring(右袒)

Idioms

  • Bare the arms and cheer(袒臂欢呼)
  • Bare the left arm(左袒)
  • Take off clothes and bare the body(袒裼裸裎)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese ritual contexts, baring one arm (particularly the left) could signify mourning or allegiance.
  • The character appears in historical accounts of political partisanship, as in 'taking sides' (左袒 for one faction, 右袒 for another).
  • Associated with physical exposure, often in contexts of vulnerability, informality, or protest.

FAQ