tān

greedy

Depicts a mouth () facing a shell (). In ancient China, shells were used as currency. also represents the sound.

Components
貝 iconic component

  Iconic component

bèi

  

sea shell

今 sound,iconic component

  Sound Iconic component

jīn

  

now

Evolution

貪 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
貪 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
貪 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
貪 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

tān

greedy, covet; covetous; to have a voracious desire for; to covet; greedy; corrupt

Most common words with 貪
Freq.
Word
Meaning

贪婪

avaricious

to covet

贪污

to be corrupt

贪心

greedy

贪官

corrupt official