Chinese Character: 耽 (Dān - Delay; Indulge)
1. Character Basics
Radical: 耳 (Ear radical, related to focus/attention)
Stroke Count: 10 (Number of strokes: 10)
Structure Analysis: 形声字，从耳（与专注、听觉相关），冘声（yín，表音）。本义指专注、沉溺（如“耽乐”），引申为延迟（如“耽搁”）。(A phonetic-semantic character, combining "耳" (ear radical) and "冘" (phonetic component). Originally means "indulge" (e.g., "耽乐" - indulge in pleasure), extended to "delay" (e.g., "耽搁" - delay).)
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Dān (First tone)
3. Meaning
"耽" mainly means:
1. Verb: Indulge (e.g., "耽于幻想" - indulge in fantasy);
2. Verb: Delay (e.g., "耽搁时间" - delay time). ("耽"主要表示：
1. 动词：沉溺、沉迷（如“耽于幻想”）；
2. 动词：延迟、拖延（如“耽搁时间”）。)
4. Common Words
- 耽搁 (dān ge) Delay
- 耽溺 (dān nì) Indulge
- 耽乐 (dān lè) Indulge in pleasure
5. Grammar & Usage
"耽" is mainly a verb, collocating with "搁" (delay), "溺" (indulge), or "乐" (pleasure) (e.g., "耽搁" - delay). Takes prepositional phrases (e.g., "耽于游戏" - induce games) or objects (e.g., "耽误工作" - delay work). “耽”多作动词，常与“搁”“溺”“乐”等字搭配（如“耽搁”“耽溺”），可带介词结构（如“耽于游戏”）或宾语（如“耽误工作”）。)
6. Cultural Background
The Book of Documents warns against indulgence. Modern usage describes procrastination or addiction (e.g., "耽于手机" - indulge in mobile phones). 《尚书》有“玩人丧德，玩物丧志”，“耽”体现对过度沉迷的警示；现代多用于描述拖延或沉迷状态（如“耽于手机”）。)
7. Example Sentence
He always indulges in fantasy, ignoring the practical issues at hand. 他总是耽于幻想，忽略了眼前的实际问题。
The traffic jam delayed our trip, and we arrived two hours late. 交通堵塞耽搁了我们的行程，到达时已经晚了两小时。
8. Memory Tips
Associate "耽" with "耳" (focus) and "冘" (slow), like "focusing so long that time slows" to remember "indulge/delay". Connect with common terms like "耽搁" to reinforce memory. 联想“耽”的结构：“耳”（专注听）和“冘”（缓慢），合起来像“专注到忘记时间而缓慢”，对应“沉溺、延迟”的含义；结合“耽搁”“耽溺”等常用词强化记忆。)