Looking up...
to dare; to have the courage to
我敢说这个答案是正确的。
I dare say this answer is correct.
她不敢告诉父母实情。
She didn't dare tell her parents the truth.
Used to express willingness or courage to do something risky or challenging. Often appears in negative constructions (不敢) to indicate hesitation or fear.
to be bold enough to; to venture to
他敢冒险投资这家新公司。
He ventured to invest in this new company.
Implies taking a risk or acting boldly in a specific context.
When used with negation (不敢), it expresses reluctance or fear. For example, '我不敢说' (I dare not say) implies hesitation or lack of confidence.
敢 functions as a modal verb and must be followed by another verb. It cannot be used as a standalone verb. For example, '我敢' (I dare) is incomplete; it requires a verb phrase like '我敢去' (I dare to go).
From Old Chinese *kâːnʔ (敢), originally meaning 'to dare' or 'bold'. The character combines 耳 (ear) and 攴 (to strike) in the traditional form (聴), suggesting 'to listen carefully and act decisively'. The modern simplified form 敢 retains the core meaning of courage or boldness.
敢 is a modal verb that requires a verb phrase to follow. It cannot stand alone. In modern Chinese, it is often used in negative forms (e.g., 不敢) to express reluctance or fear. It can also appear in rhetorical questions to emphasize determination.