thin, faint, pale, fleeting
淡 centers on a lack of intensity or substance: something thin, faint, pale, or fleeting. The meanings all describe a quality that is barely present or quickly passing.
淡 combines 氵 (water) with 炎 (flame). The idea is that water weakens or dilutes fire, producing a thin, faint quality.
Water 氵 poured over flames 炎 makes them thin and faint, leaving only a pale, fleeting glow.
For タン, imagine a tan-colored liquid so thin and pale it barely colors the water: tan -> タン.
light; faint; pale; fleeting
uninterested; unconcerned; indifferent; dispassionate; matter-of-fact; detached
Awaji (former province located on Awaji Island in present-day Hyōgo Prefecture)
fresh water (i.e. not salt water)
cool; indifferent; apathetic; half-hearted
light (flavor, color, etc.); simple; plain
light and shade; shade (of colour, color)
freshwater fish
light color; light colour
light snow; light snowfall; thin layer of snow
pink; rose
cold-hearted; callous; pitiless; unsympathetic
friendships between wise men are plain and hence rock solid
simple; quiet
not letting oneself puffed up by one's success; maintaining a serene state of mind when one has achieved a great success
disinterested; unselfish; indifferent; detached
rising above the trivia of life and remaining calm and selfless
elegant simplicity
desalination
lightly; faintly; delicately