残

殘

cán

戋 + 歹

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

cán (adjective) damaged; broken; incomplete

cán (adjective) disabled; handicapped

cán (adjective) cruel; brutal; savage

cán (verb) to damage; to destroy; to ruin

cán (adjective) remnant; remaining

Etymology

Simplified form of 殘. Phonosemantic compound. 歹 represents the meaning and 戋 represents the sound.

Semantic: 歹 Phonetic: 戋

About

The traditional form 殘 combines the radical 歹 (dǎi), associated with death or decay, with the phonetic component 戔 (jiān), suggesting injury or smallness. The simplified character 残 retains this structure, replacing 戔 with the simpler 戋. Together, the components convey a core meaning of severe damage or ruin, extending to concepts of incompleteness, cruelty, and destruction.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个玩具残缺了。

Zhège wánjù cánquē le.

This toy is incomplete.

战争带来残酷的后果。

Zhànzhēng dàilái cánkù de hòuguǒ.

War brings cruel consequences.

他的行为非常残忍。

Tā de xíngwéi fēicháng cánrěn.

His behavior is very cruel.

社会应该关心残疾人。

Shèhuì yīnggāi guānxīn cánjí rén.

Society should care for disabled people.

残余的敌人被消灭了。

Cányú de dírén bèi xiāomiè le.

The remnant enemies were eliminated.

历史留下了残暴的记载。

Lìshǐ liúxià le cánbào de jìzǎi.

History has left records of brutality.

残存的古迹需要保护。

Cáncún de gǔjì xūyào bǎohù.

The surviving ancient sites need protection.

这场灾难的残局难以收拾。

Zhè chǎng zāinàn de cánjú nányǐ shōushi.

The aftermath of this disaster is difficult to deal with.

Related Characters

Component: 戋

Component: 歹

残