丹 Rust-Colored

Radical Combination

• 舟

  Boat

Meaning

Primary

Rust-Colored

Alternatives

Cinnabar, Sincerity

Mnemonic

This is a boat, but it's missing some pieces. That's because it's really rusty, so parts are falling off of it and it looks rust-colored. In Taoist thought and ancient Chinese literature, this rusty red color, also known as cinnabar, represented sincerity, and you'll often see this kanji take that meaning in jukugo words.

Hints

Picture this broken, rust-colored boat. It may be rusty and missing some important pieces, but it's not trying to hide its flaws — and there's a beautiful sincerity in that.

Readings

On’yomi

たん

Kun’yomi

に

Nanori

None

Mnemonic

The rust-colored boat has inspired you, so you lie on its deck and get a tan (たん). If you can tan until you're the same cinnabar color as the boat, you think some of its sincerity might rub off on you.

Hints

Watch your skin slowly change as you tan to match the rust-colored boat. Don't worry about the uncomfortable burning sensation — that's just proof you're becoming a more sincere, more tan human being.