bamboo rice basket
箪 centers on a container made of bamboo: a basket used for holding rice or other items.
箪 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 单, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a bamboo basket or container.
The top 竹 is bamboo, and the bottom 单 looks like a simple container. Picture a bamboo basket woven to hold rice.
For タン, imagine a tan-colored bamboo basket filled with rice: tan -> タン, and the basket is made of bamboo.
chest of drawers; bureau; cabinet; tansu; dresser
calabash (Lagenaria siceraria); bottle gourd
small-sized wardrobe
bamboo utensil (for holding food); bamboo dish
simple food and drink; being content with a frugal life; a bamboo dish of rice and a gourd of drink
bottle gourd
something appearing from a place one wouldn't expect; something said as a joke actually happening; a horse from a gourd
something appearing from a place you wouldn't expect; something said as a joke actually happening; a horse comes out from a gourd
(person) slippery as an eel
bamboo dish of rice
receiving with food and drink (e.g. troops); baskets of rice and vessels of congee
simple food and drink; being content with a frugal life; a bamboo dish of rice and a gourd of drink
tea cabinet; cupboard for tea implements
wardrobe
chest of drawers that also function as stairs
green calabash; unripe gourd