HSK 3
能愿动词:敢
néng yuàn dòng cí : gǎn
Modal verb: 敢 (to dare)
Explanation
敢 (gǎn) means "to dare", and it is a modal verb (a modal verb such as 会 huì, 能 néng, 想 xiǎng... placed before the main verb to modify it). It expresses that the speaker has enough courage or boldness to do something.
Subject (the doer, at the start of the sentence) + 敢 (gǎn) + verb. Negative: Subject + 不敢 (bù gǎn) + verb. Question: ...敢...吗?(gǎn...ma).
when asking whether someone dares to do something dangerous or difficult (你敢...吗? nǐ gǎn...ma - Do you dare to...?), or when expressing that you are afraid and do not dare to do it (我不敢... wǒ bù gǎn - I don't dare to...).
Vietnamese learners often place 敢 after the main verb. This is wrong; 敢 always comes BEFORE the verb. Also do not add 是 (shì) or 很 (hěn) before 敢.
Examples
This place is two meters high; do you dare to jump down?
I don't dare to swim in the river.
Practice
Test your understanding with a quick quiz
Learn “能愿动词:敢” effectively
The grammar point “能愿动词:敢” (Modal verb: 敢 (to dare)) is one of the key structures at HSK 3. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
You can also view the full “” lesson to understand the related grammar and vocabulary more deeply.