談 (tán) - Talk, discuss, converse & speech, conversation

談Tone 2

tán ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

談 · tán

Talk, discuss, converse;

speech, conversation;

a surname.

Talk, discuss, conversespeech, conversationa surname.

Usage highlights

TalkNegotiateDiscussChatInformal talkHeart

Synonyms

  • 说— speak, say
  • 讲— speak, explain
  • 聊— chat, talk casually

Antonyms

  • 默— silent, quiet
  • 静— still, quiet

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We need to talk about this matter (谈这件事).
  • They are discussing business (谈生意).
  • This is just casual conversation (闲谈).
  • He gave a speech at the conference (在会议上谈话).

Collocations

  • Talk(谈话)
  • Negotiate(谈判)
  • Discuss(讨论)
  • Chat(交谈)
  • Informal talk(闲谈)
  • Heart-to-heart talk(谈心)

Idioms

  • Talk on paper(纸上谈兵)
  • Talk wildly without touching the point(高谈阔论)
  • Talk big(夸夸其谈)
  • Talk freely and cordially(促膝谈心)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 談 combines the 'speech' radical (言) with the phonetic component 炎 (flame), suggesting 'heated discussion' or 'fiery debate'.
  • In historical contexts, 談 was associated with philosophical discourse and intellectual debate.
  • The idiom 纸上谈兵 criticizes impractical theoretical discussion, originating from a Zhao general who only knew military theory.

FAQ