Word: 弹 (tán, dàn)

一根马尾儿做弦,无法弹

yìgēn mǎyǐ ér zuò xián,wúfǎ dàn

a single horse hair as a string: cannot be plucked (talked)

三日不弹,手生荆棘

sānrì bù tán,shǒu shēng jīngjí

three days without playing, the hands grow thorns

下雨天我弹吉他解闷。

Xià yǔtiān wǒ tán jítā jiěmèn.

On rainy days I play the guitar to pass the time.

两个琵琶一个调，弹到一起去了

liǎng gè pípa yí gè diào, dàn dào yìqǐ qùle

two pipas in one key: they play / talk together

买了琵琶没上弦，不能弹

mǎile pípa méi shàng xián, bùnéng dàn

bought a pipa but didn't string it: can't play it

二两棉花四张弓，细弹

èr liǎng miánhua sì zhāng gōng, xì dàn

two liang of cotton and four bows: fine fluffing (talking)

他会弹一点儿古筝。

Tā huì tán yìdiǎnr gǔzhēng.

He can play a bit of zither.

他会弹吉他。

Tā huì tán jítā.

He is able to play the guitar.

他吉他弹得很好。

Tā jítā tán de hěn hǎo.

He plays the guitar very well.

他常常弹吉他。

Tā chángcháng tán jítā.

He often plays the guitar.

他弹得多好啊！

Tā tán de duō hǎo a!

How well he played!

他弹得很好。

Tā tán de hěn hǎo.

He plays very well.

他很擅长弹吉他。

Tā hěn shàncháng tán jítā.

He's very good at playing guitar.

他钢琴弹得不错。

Tā gāngqín tán de búcuò.

He plays the piano without mistakes.

你一定钢琴弹得很好。

Nǐ yídìng gāngqín tán de hěn hǎo.

You certainly play the piano well.

你们弹吉他吗？

Nǐmen tán jítā ma?

Do you play the guitar?

你会弹吉他吗？

Nǐ huì tán jítā ma?

Can you play the guitar?

你会教我弹吉他吗？

Nǐ huì jiāo wǒ tán jítā ma?

Will you tell me how to play the guitar?

你吉他弹得非常好。

Nǐ jítā tán de fēicháng hǎo.

You play the guitar very well.

四两棉花八张弓，细弹细弹

sì liǎng miánhua bā zhāng gōng, xì dàn xì dàn

four ounces of cotton and eight bows: fluff it fine, fluff it fine

大丈夫有泪不轻弹

dàzhàngfu yǒu lèi bù qīng tán

a true man does not flick away his tears lightly

她可以把钢琴弹得很好。

Tā kěyǐ bǎ gāngqín tán de hěn hǎo.

She can play the piano very well.

她无法把钢琴弹得很好。

Tā wúfǎ bǎ gāngqín tán de hěn hǎo.

She can't play the piano very well.

她知道如何弹吉他。

Tā zhīdào rúhé tán jítā.

She knows how to play the guitar.

她钢琴弹得很好。

Tā gāngqín tán de hěn hǎo.

She plays the piano very well.

怀里揣琵琶,弹心

huáilǐ chuǎi pípa,dàn xīn

carrying a pipa in one's bosom: plucks (talks) heart

我会为你弹吉他。

Wǒ huì wèi nǐ tán jítā.

I will play the guitar for you.

我会弹吉他。

Wǒ huì tán jítā.

I can play the guitar.

我十岁的时候学会了弹吉他。

Wǒ shí suì de shíhou xuéhuì le dàn jítā.

I learned to play guitar when I was ten years old.

我妹妹钢琴可以弹得比我好。

Wǒ mèimei gāngqín kěyǐ tán de bǐ wǒ hǎo.

My sister can play the piano better than I can.

我姐姐吉他弹得很好。

Wǒ jiějie jítā tán de hěn hǎo.

My older sister plays the guitar well.

我想弹吉他。

Wǒ xiǎng tán jítā.

I want to play the guitar.

我晚饭后弹吉他。

Wǒ wǎnfàn hòu tán jítā.

I play the guitar after dinner.

我的兴趣是弹吉他。

Wǒ de xìngqù shì tán jítā.

My hobby is playing the guitar.

我的姐姐弹吉他弹得很好。

Wǒ de jiějie tán jítā tán de hěn hǎo.

My older sister plays the guitar well.

我的母亲钢琴弹得很好。

Wǒ de mǔqīn gāngqín tán de hěn hǎo.

My mother plays the piano well.

我的爱好是开车和弹吉他。

Wǒ de àihào shì kāichē hé tán jítā.

My hobbies are driving and playing the guitar.

我的舅舅在弹吉他。

Wǒ de jiùjiu zài tán jítā.

My uncle is playing the guitar.

棉花店里挂绷弓儿，不弹

miánhua diàn lǐ guà bēng gōng ér, bú dàn

hanging a cotton-fluffing bow in a cotton shop: not fluffing (not talking)

棉花掉进水里，弹不成

miánhua diào jìnshuǐ lǐ, dàn bùchéng

cotton falling into water: can't be fluffed (can't be discussed)

田中先生的钢琴弹得很好。

Tiánzhōng xiānsheng de gāngqín tán de hěn hǎo.

Mr. Tanaka can play the piano well.

给我们弹一手。

Gěi wǒmen tán yìshǒu.

Play us a tune.

英雄有泪不轻弹

yīngxióng yǒu lèi bù qīng tán

a hero doesn't easily flick away tears

让他弹你的吉他。

Ràng tā dàn nǐ de jítā.

Let him play your guitar.

谁在弹吉他？

Shéi zài tán jítā?

Who is playing the guitar?