切断 (qiē duàn) — to sever; to cut off; to amputate | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A compound verb meaning to physically sever or to break off a connection (power, contact, supply). Stronger and more decisive than the simpler 断, which can describe breaking on its own.

verb

to severto cut offto amputate

Examples

切断。
Bào fēng yǔ qiē duàn le diàn yuán.
The storm cut off the power supply.
切断。
Yī shēng bù dé bú qiē duàn tā de tuǐ.
The doctor had to amputate his leg.
切断。
Tā men qiē duàn le yǔ wài jiè de yí qiè lián xì.
They cut off all contact with the outside world.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

断duànsevered

切 expresses cutting, and 断 gives the result that it becomes severed.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

七刀切

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刀刀dāoknife

Sound part声符shēngfú

七

七qī切qiè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 切, the 刀 (knife) part is joined to 七, which gives the sound.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

𢇍𢇍𢇍to cut
斤斤jīnaxe

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Appears in

Change & Process Injury & Disability 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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