断 (duàn) — to break, to snap (physically); to cut off, to interrupt; to give up, to abstain from (a habit)
Definition
断 covers both 'snap' (physical breaking) and 'cut off / give up' — broader than 折 (snap/bend/fold) and 割 (cut with a blade). For 'interrupt someone speaking' use the compound 打断.
verb
to breakto snap (physically)to cut offto interruptto give upto abstain from (a habit)
Examples
- 断。Shéng zi tū rán duàn le.The rope suddenly snapped.
- ,。Tái fēng guò hòu, hěn duō dì fāng duàn diàn le.After the typhoon, many places lost power.
- ,。Bǎo bao yí suì le, gāi duàn nǎi le.The baby is one year old, it's time to wean.
Appears in
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