弹 (dàn) is a Chinese character meaning “bullet”. It is written from 弓 (bow) and 单 (single; alone; list), side by side, and takes 11 strokes. It has a second reading, tán, which turns up in 弹钢琴 — here the two readings are two separate things to learn, not one card with two answers.
Build the character for “bullet”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
弓 + 单
Left–right structure
Structure from: studyhanzi 现代字形拆分（对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：弓 3 画 + 单 8 画 = 11 画）
Memory aid
A bow (弓) loaded with a single (单, dān) pellet. Let it fly and you have a bullet — dàn, the sound 单 hints at.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
11 strokes
In real words
- 子弹zǐ dànbullet弹 = dàn
- 炸弹zhà dànbomb弹 = dàn
- 弹弓dàn gōngslingshot; catapult弹 = dàn
Go deeper
All readings
bullet; bomb
bullet; pellet; shell; bomb
用弓或枪炮发射出去的小丸或弹头；也指炸弹。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 子弹zǐ dànbullet弹 = dàn
- 炸弹zhà dànbomb弹 = dàn
- 弹弓dàn gōngslingshot; catapult弹 = dàn
to play (strings); to spring
to pluck; to play (a stringed or keyboard instrument); to spring back; elastic
用手指拨动或敲击使发声，如弹琴；也指受压后弹起。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 弹钢琴tán gāng qínto play the piano弹 = tán
Sound component
单 family tone diff
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 弹 mean?
弹 (dàn) means bullet; pellet; shell; bomb.
How do you pronounce 弹?
Its main reading is dàn. It also has a second reading, tán, which only shows up in certain words such as 弹钢琴 — so the word tells you the reading, not the character on its own.
Why is 弹 sometimes pronounced tán?
Because it is a multi-reading character: each reading carries a different sense, and the word decides which one applies. In 弹钢琴 it is read tán.
What parts is 弹 made of?
弓 (bow) and 单 (single; alone; list), side by side. The recorded source is: studyhanzi 现代字形拆分（对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：弓 3 画 + 单 8 画 = 11 画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 弹 have?
11. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 弹?
弓. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 弹?
Common ones are 子弹, 炸弹, 弹弓. The reading of 弹 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.