宕
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: dissipated
💡 Imagine a stone (石) under a roof (宀) that is unstable and prone to falling—like a dissipated life.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
宕 (dàng) originally meant 'to extend' or 'to stretch out,' as seen in its radical 宀 (roof) and component 石 (stone). Over time, it evolved to mean 'dissipated' or 'licentious,' describing a lifestyle of excessive indulgence. In modern usage, it appears in words like 拖延 (delay) and 跌宕 (undulating), but retains its core sense of looseness or deviation from norms.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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