斷 (duàn) - To break & to sever

斷Tone 4

duàn ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

斷 · duàn

To break;

to sever;

to cut off;

to discontinue;

to judge;

to decide;

to determine;

to absolutely;

to decidedly.

To breakto severto cut off

Usage highlights

to break offto judgeto diagnoseto interruptto decidebroken bridge

Synonyms

  • 绝— to cut off; to sever
  • 判— to judge; to decide
  • 决— to decide; to determine

Antonyms

  • 连— to connect; to link
  • 续— to continue; to extend

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The rope broke (绳子断了).
  • We need to cut off the power supply (断电).
  • The judge will decide the case (断案).
  • I absolutely cannot agree (断然不能同意).

Collocations

  • to break off(断绝)
  • to judge(判断)
  • to diagnose(诊断)
  • to interrupt(打断)
  • to decide(断定)
  • broken bridge(断桥)

Idioms

  • Cut the mess by hacking through it(快刀斩乱麻)
  • Browell mountain and flowing stream(断山流水)
  • Cut iron like cutting mud(断铁如泥)
  • Decisive in judgment(当机立断)
  • Sever the finger to save the wrist(断指存腕)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese thought, '断' implies decisiveness and finality, often seen as a virtue in leadership.
  • The character appears in many legal and medical terms, reflecting its association with judgment and diagnosis.
  • Buddhist philosophy uses '断' to describe cutting off attachments and desires to achieve enlightenment.

FAQ