tàiyang 太阳 [modif: 太 big, super + 阳 open, overt, masculine] N the sun, sunshine ■ 今天的 太阳真
好。Jīntiān de tàiyang zhēn hǎo. The sunshine’s beautiful today.
NOTE: (1) Put together, 太 tài (meaning big, great in classical Chinese) and 阳 yáng (meaning Yang of
ancient Chinese thought) mean the ultimate Yang, as the sun is the ultimate symbol of Yang. The
ultimate symbol of Yin is the moon 月 yuè. (2) In 太阳 tàiyang, 阳 yang is pronounced in the neutral tone.tài 态 TRAD 態 N stance
tàidu 态度 [comp: 态 stance + 度 appearance, bearing] N attitude, approach ■ 这位服务员的服务 态度
很好。Zhè wèi fúwùyuán de fúwù tàidu hěn hǎo. This attendant’s work attitude is good. ■ 这孩
子说话态度不好，常惹人生气。Zhè háizi shuōhuà tàidu bù hǎo, cháng rě rén shēngqì. This
child’s manner of speaking is bad, and is often offensive.
NOTE: Though 态度 tàidu is glossed as attitude or approach, it is more commonly used in Chinese than its
equivalents in English.
tài 泰 ADJ peace, safe ■ 国泰民安 Guō tài mín ān The country is safe and the people live in peace
tàidǒu 泰斗 N authority, guru, master
tān 贪 TRAD 貪 I V be greedy II ADJ corrupt
tānguān 贪官 N corrupt official
tānlán 贪婪 ADJ greedy, avaricious
tānwū 贪污 [comp: 贪 corrupt + 污 filthy] V & N embezzle, be involved in corruption; embezzlement,
corruption 贪污犯 tānwūfàn embezzler, grafter / 贪污公款 tānwū gōngkuǎn embezzle public funds
tān 摊 TRAD 攤 N vendor’s stand, stall 摊儿 tānr vendor’s stand, stall ■ 路两边摆了很多 摊儿，有卖吃
的，也有卖工艺品的。Lù liǎngbiān bǎile hěn duō tānr, yǒu mài chī de, yě yǒu mài gōngyìpǐn de.
There are many stands on the two sides of the street; some sell food and others sell smallhandicraft articles.
tān 瘫 TRAD 癱 V be paralyzed
tānhuàn 瘫痪 V & N be paralyzed; paralysis 全身瘫痪 quánshēn tānhuàn complete paralysis
tán 谈 TRAD 談 V talk, discuss ■ 我想跟你谈一件 事。Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ tán yí jiàn shì. I’d like to
discuss something with you. 谈一下 tán yíxià talk briefly about, give a brief talk about ■ 请你谈一下
去中国旅行的情况。Qǐng nǐ tán yíxià qù Zhōngguó lǚxíng de qíngkuàng. Please give a brief talk
about your trip to China.
tánhuà 谈话 [comp: 谈 talk + 话 talk] V & N have a (serious, formal) talk; talk ■ 校长找我谈 话。
Xiàozhǎng zhǎo wǒ tánhuà. The principal summoned me for a talk.
tánpàn 谈判 V & N negotiate; negotiation ■ 双方正 在为签订一项合同谈判。Shuāngfāng zhèngzài wèi
qiāndìng yí xiàng hétóng tánpàn. The two sides are negotiating the signing of a contract. ■ 这项
谈判在进行了三个星期以后终于取得双方满意的 结果。Zhè xiàng tánpàn zài jìnxíngle sān ge
xīngqī yǐhòu zhōngyú qǔdé shuāngfāng mǎnyì de jiéguǒ. After three weeks the negotiations finally
reached a conclusion that satisfied both parties.
tántiān 谈天 V chat, chitchat ■ 上班的时候，不能 谈天。Shàngbān de shíhou, bù néng tántiān. You
are not supposed to chat during working hours.
tán 弹 TRAD 彈 V pluck, catapult
tán gāngqín 弹钢琴 V play the piano
tánxìng 弹性 N elasticity, flexibility 有弹性的 yǒu tánxìng de flexible
tán 坛 TRAD 壇 N altar 天坛 tiāntán the Temple of Heaven (in Beijing)
tǎn 毯 N blanket, rug, tapestry, carpet 羊毛毯 yángmáotǎn woolen blanket
tǎnzi 毯子 [suffix: 毯 blanket + 子 nominal suffix] N blanket (条 tiáo) ■ 中国人一般不用毯子，而用
被子。Zhōngguórén yìbān bú yòng tánzi, ér yòng bèizi. The Chinese usually do not use blankets,
but use quilts.
tǎn 坦 ADJ 1 candid, frank 2 level, smooth 平坦 píngtǎn (of land) level and expansive
tǎnbái 坦白 V 1 confess to (crimes or wrongdoing), owe up to ■ 坦白从宽，抗拒从严。Tǎnbái cóng