“To dare” in Chinese – 敢 gǎn

Grammar Point:
The Chinese character 敢 gǎn is primarily used as a verb and means “to dare” or “to have the courage to.” It is often used in sentences to express someone’s willingness or courage to do something.

Structure

S + 敢 gǎn + V

弟弟dìdi不bù敢gǎn吃chī辣là弟弟dìdi不bù敢gǎn吃chī辣là
My younger brother is afraid of eating spicy food.

你nǐ敢gǎn用yòng手shǒu抓zhuā蛇shé嗎ma？ 你nǐ敢gǎn用yòng手shǒu抓zhuā蛇shé吗ma？
Do you dare to catch a snake with your hands?

我wǒ現在xiànzài不bù敢gǎn再zài學xué另一個lìngyíge語言yǔyán， 我wǒ怕pà會huì搞混gǎohùn我wǒ现在xiànzài不bù敢gǎn再zài学xué另一个lìngyíge语言yǔyán， 我wǒ怕pà会huì搞混gǎohùn
I’m afraid to start learning another language now because I’m worried I’ll get confused.

你nǐ敢不敢gǎnbùgǎn玩wán高空彈跳gāokōngdàntiào？ 你nǐ敢不敢gǎnbùgǎn玩wán蹦极bèngjí？
Do you dare to try bungee jumping?

你nǐ怎麼zěnme敢gǎn這樣zhèyàng跟gēn我wǒ說話shuōhuà你nǐ怎么zěnme敢gǎn这样zhèyàng跟gēn我wǒ说话shuōhuà
How dare you speak to me like this?

我wǒ現在xiànzài敢gǎn在zài國外guówài開車kāichē了le我wǒ现在xiànzài敢gǎn在zài国外guówài开车kāichē了le
I’m now confident in driving abroad.

S + 竟敢 jìnggǎn + V

The Chinese word 竟敢 jìnggǎn is used when you’re surprised or shocked by someone’s daring or unexpected actions. It’s a way of expressing amazement or disbelief at their bravery or boldness.

你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn偷tōu看kàn我的wǒde手機shǒujī！ 你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn偷tōu看kàn我的wǒde手机shǒujī！
How dare you peek at my phone!

你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn把bǎ我們wǒmen全部quánbù的de錢qián都dōu拿ná去qù賭博dǔbó！ 你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn把bǎ我们wǒmen全部quánbù的de钱qián都dōu拿ná去qù赌博dǔbó！
How dare you gamble away all of our money!

你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn背bèi著zhe我wǒ在zài外面wàimiàn養yǎng小三xiǎosān你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn背bèi着zhe我wǒ在zài外面wàimiàn养yǎng小三xiǎosān
How dare you have an affair behind my back!

你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn跟gēn我wǒ這樣zhèyàng說話shuōhuà你nǐ竟敢jìnggǎn跟gēn我wǒ这样zhèyàng说话shuōhuà
How dare you speak to me like this?
(Yes, it’s another way to express 怎麼么敢 zěnme gǎn)

Modern Usage

你敢 nǐgǎn！

The phrase 你敢 nǐgǎn is an informal and emphatic way of saying “Don’t you dare!” in Mandarin Chinese. It is often used to challenge or provoke someone, suggesting that they should take action or do something bold if they have the courage. It’s possible to be a threat but also commonly used in playful or confrontational situations among friends or in casual conversations.

A：哇wa！ 你nǐ做菜zuòcài這麼zhème難吃nánchī， 我wǒ一定yídìng要yào去qù警告jǐnggào你nǐ男朋友nánpéngyǒu哇wa！ 你nǐ做菜zuòcài这么zhème难吃nánchī， 我wǒ一定yídìng要yào去qù警告jǐnggào你nǐ男朋友nánpéngyou
Wow! Your cooking is so bad; I must warn your boyfriend.

B：你敢nǐgǎn！ 你敢nǐgǎn！
Don’t you dare!

A：親愛的qīnàide， 你nǐ做zuò的de咖喱飯kālǐfàn好hǎo苦kǔ好hǎo酸suān， 我wǒ可不可以kěbùkěyǐ倒掉dàodiào？ 亲爱的qīnàide， 你nǐ做zuò的de咖喱饭kālǐfàn好hǎo苦kǔ好hǎo酸suān， 我wǒ可不可以kěbùkěyǐ倒掉dàodiào？
Honey, your curry rice is so bitter and sour, can I pour it out?

B：你敢nǐgǎn！ 你敢nǐgǎn！
Don’t you dare!

我敢說/我敢说 wǒgǎnshuō！

The Chinese phrase 我敢說 wǒ gǎn shuō means “I dare say” or “I dare to say.” It’s used when you want to express your confidence or certainty in a statement you’re about to make. It’s similar to saying, “I’m confident in saying that” or “I’m sure that.”

我wǒ敢說gǎnshuō台灣Táiwān的de治安zhìān絕對juéduì算suàn前qián三名sānmíng我wǒ敢说gǎnshuō台湾Táiwān的de治安zhìān绝对juéduì算suàn前qián三名sānmíng
I dare say that Taiwan’s public safety is definitely among the top three.

我wǒ敢說gǎnshuō你nǐ跟gēn我wǒ學xué中文zhōngwén一定yídìng比bǐ你自己nǐzìjǐ學xué快kuài多duō了le我wǒ敢说gǎnshuō你nǐ跟gēn我wǒ学xué中文zhōngwén一定yídìng比bǐ你自己nǐzìjǐ学xué快kuài多duō了le
I dare say that you’ll learn Chinese much faster with me than on your own.

我wǒ敢說gǎnshuō我們wǒmen家jiā的de咖啡kāfēi是shì這一區zhèyìqū最好zuìhǎo的de我wǒ敢说gǎnshuō我们wǒmen家jiā的de咖啡kāfēi是shì这一区zhèyìqū最好zuìhǎo的de
I dare say that our coffee is the best in this area.

你nǐ敢說gǎnshuō這樣zhèyàng做zuò一定yídìng會huì成功chénggōng嗎ma？ 你nǐ敢说gǎnshuō这样zhèyáng做zuò一定yídìng会huì成功chénggōng吗ma？
Do you dare to say that doing it this way will definitely succeed?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Would you dare to tell the truth?

你nǐ敢不敢gǎnbùgǎn說shuō實話shíhuà？ 你nǐ敢不敢gǎnbùgǎn说shuō实话shíhuà？

✔️ How could you dare to live abroad all by yourself?

你nǐ怎麼zěnme敢gǎn一個人yígerén到dào國外guówài生活shēnghuó你nǐ怎么zěnme敢gǎn一个人yígerén到dào国外guówài生活shēnghuó

✔️ I really dare not watch horror movies.

我wǒ真的zhēnde不bù敢gǎn看kàn恐怖片kǒngbùpiàn我wǒ真的zhēnde不bù敢gǎn看kàn恐怖片kǒngbùpiàn