腆 (tiǎn): (in 腼腆) shy; bashful

Meanings

他腆着胸，自信地走进房间。

Tā tiǎn zhe xiōng, zìxìn de zǒu jìn fángjiān.

He stuck out his chest and walked into the room confidently.

新人总是有点腼腆拘谨。

Xīnrén zǒngshì yǒudiǎn miǎntiǎn jūjǐn.

Newcomers always feel a bit shy and reserved.

usage

Best known in 腼腆 ('shy'). On its own it can mean to thrust out the chest or belly, as in 腆着肚子 ('with belly stuck out').

radical

⺼ ròu

flesh; body (radical form)

The flesh radical, the body-part form of 肉. It fits both senses: a body sticking out a belly, and the bodily blush of shyness.

phonetic

典 diǎn

canon; standard; phonetic

Canon, supplying the sound; diǎn shifts to tiǎn. It is phonetic here; the same element appears in the look-alike 舔 (to lick).

腆 tiǎn