Pinyin "tan4"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "tan4" is split up into two parts: "t" and "an4". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "t"

T is for Tecumseh, leader of the Shawnee.

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "an4"

In the anthill's bathroom.

Characters pronounced tan4

炭
tàn = t + an4
wood charcoal / coal
炭 = 山 + 灰 : Tecumseh (t) had a fire running in the anthill's bathroom (an4), but now it has already died down. With a fork (山) he is searching in the ash (灰) for the pieces and bits of charcoal (炭) that have formed during the fire.
碳
tàn = t + an4
carbon (chemistry)
碳 = 炭 + 石 : Tecumseh (t) further processes the charcoal (炭) he made in the anthill's bathroom (an4) into pure carbon (碳) by crushing the charcoal (炭) into its elements and exerting extreme pressure with a rock (石).
叹
嘆
tàn = t + an4
to sigh / to exclaim
叹 = 又 + 口 : Tecumseh (t) is loosing a battle in the anthill's bathroom (an4). With each hit of his opponent's boxing glove (又) on his mouth (口) he gives a desperate sigh (叹).
叹
歎
tàn = t + an4
variant of 嘆|叹[tan4]
叹 = 又 + 口 : Tecumseh (t) is loosing a battle in the anthill's bathroom (an4). With each hit of his opponent's boxing glove (又) on his mouth (口) he gives a desperate sigh (叹).
探
tàn = t + an4
to explore / to search out / to scout / to visit / to stretch forward
探 = 扌 + 冖 + 八 + 木 : Tecumseh (t) lost an eight-ball (八) during the last billiard game and goes scouting (探) to find it. Eventually he arrives at the anthill's bathroom (an4) and looks under a big Christmas tree (木). He lifts a cooking top (冖) with a toy claw (扌) and finally finds the eight-ball under it.
探 = 扌 + 罙 : Tecumseh (t) is exploring (探) the chimney of a kitchen range (罙) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). He uses two toy claws (扌) to climb inside of it from bottom to top.