TongTong
Sign in

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)
Easily confused

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.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

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

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 42000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.