Definition
谈 (tán) means 'to talk, to discuss' and implies a more serious or purposeful conversation than 说 (shuō) or 聊 (liáo). It's often used for discussing plans, ideas, or business matters, while 说 is the general 'to say/speak' and 聊 is casual 'to chat'.
verb
to talkto discuss
Easily confused
- 淡dànlook-alikebland, weak, insipid (of taste or concentration)
- 探tànsound-aliketo explore; to scout; to reconnoiter
- 痰tánlook-alikephlegm
- 弹tánsound-aliketo play (a stringed or keyboard instrument) by pressing or plucking
- 摊tānsound-alike(verb) to spread out, to unfold
- 贪tānsound-alike(verb) to covet, to be greedy for (e.g., money, pleasure)
- 炭tànsound-alikecharcoal (wood charcoal)
- 瘫tānsound-aliketo be paralyzed (of a body part)
- 坛tánsound-alike(noun) platform, rostrum, podium
Examples
- 谈。Wǒmen zài tán xuéxí de shìqing.We are talking about study matters.
- 谈。Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ tán yíxià wèilái de jìhuà.I want to talk with you a bit about future plans.
- 谈，。Tāmen tán le sān ge xiǎoshí, háishì méiyǒu jiéguǒ.They talked for three hours, but still no result.
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