cǎndàn

惨淡

Word · AdjectiveTraditional慘澹

gloomy; bleak; painstakingly managed

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 7 examples
1.

adjective

gloomy; dim; somber

literary

Describes light, color, or atmosphere that is faint, cheerless, or dim.

Mù暮
sè色
sì四
hé合
 ,
tiān天
sè色
cǎn惨
dàn澹
 。

Dusk gathered, and the sky was gloomy.

Yī一
zhǎn盏
cǎn惨
dàn澹
de的
yóu油
dēng灯
zài在
fēng风
zhōng中
yáo摇
yè曳
 。

A dim oil lamp flickered in the wind.

2.

adjective

bleak; desolate; depressing

literary

Describes scenes, moods, or economic situations that are dismal, dreary, or in decline.

Qiū秋
fēng风
cǎn惨
dàn澹
 ,
luò落
yè叶
mǎn满
dì地
 。

The autumn wind was bleak, with fallen leaves covering the ground.

Zhàn战
hòu后
de的
chéng城
shì市
yī一
piàn片
cǎn惨
dàn澹
jǐng景
xiàng象
 。

The post-war city presented a scene of utter desolation.

Show 1 more example
Shì市
chǎng场
cǎn惨
dàn澹
 ,
xǔ许
duō多
shāng商
diàn店
dǎo倒
bì闭
le了
 。

The market is bleak, and many shops have gone bankrupt.

3.

adjective

painstaking; arduous; involving great effort

literary

Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase '惨澹经营', describing a business or endeavor that has been built up with painstaking effort under difficult conditions.

Jīng经
guò过
shù数
nián年
cǎn惨
dàn澹
jīng经
yíng营
 ,
zhè这
jiā家
xiǎo小
gōng公
sī司
zhōng终
yú于
bù步
rù入
zhèng正
guǐ轨
 。

After years of painstaking management, this small company has finally gotten on track.

Tā他
cǎn惨
dàn澹
jīng经
yíng营
zhe着
zhè这
fèn份
zǔ祖
chuán传
de的
jiā家
yè业
 。

He is painstakingly managing this family business passed down through generations.