坦白

tǎnbái

adjective HSK 7-9 #2,160

Meanings

1 frank; candid; honest
2 to confess; to come clean (verb)

Characters

flat; open; straightforward

white; clear; plain

Literally 'open and clear' — hiding nothing, laying everything out plainly.

Examples

坦白说，我不太同意你的看法。

Tǎnbái shuō, wǒ bútài tóngyì nǐ de kànfǎ.

Frankly speaking, I don't really agree with your view.

他终于向警察坦白了。

Tā zhōngyú xiàng jǐngchá tǎnbái le.

He finally confessed to the police.

坦白从宽，抗拒从严。

Tǎnbái cóngkuān, kàngjù cóngyán.

Confess and receive leniency; resist and face severity.

Tips

culture

坦白从宽，抗拒从严 ('confess and receive leniency, resist and face severity') is an iconic phrase from China's legal and political system, often seen on police station walls. It's also widely used humorously in everyday life.

Stroke Order

坦 tǎn

白 bái