Definitions

dùn (verb) to pause; to stop
dùn (verb) to arrange; to lay out
dùn (adverb) at once; immediately
dùn (noun) time; bout; spell

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 顿 is a phono-semantic compound with 屯 as the phonetic element on the left and the head radical 页 on the right, which in its traditional form 頓 uses 頁. The radical signifies meaning related to the head, face, or neck. Its original sense described the physical act of bowing the head or striking it against the ground in reverence. This sudden, halting motion of the head later generalized to mean any abrupt pause or brief cessation of action, and eventually developed into a measure word for meals or sudden bursts of activity.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们吃一饭。

Wǒmen chī yī dùn fàn.

We eat a meal.

他停了一会儿。

Tā tíngdùn le yīhuìr.

He paused for a moment.

天气时变冷了。

Tiānqì dùnshí biàn lěng le.

The weather suddenly turned cold.

公司需要整纪律。

Gōngsī xūyào zhěngdùn jìlǜ.

The company needs to tighten discipline.

他一批评让我很难过。

Tā yī dùn pīpíng ràng wǒ hěn nánguò.

His round of criticism made me very sad.

经过整,部门效率提高了。

Jīngguò zhěngdùn, bùmén xiàolǜ tígāo le.

After reorganization, the department's efficiency improved.

悟了人生的道理。

Tā dùnwù le rénshēng de dàolǐ.

He suddenly realized the truth of life.

在整市场秩序的过程中,政府采取了多项措施。

Zài zhěngdùn shìchǎng zhìxù de guòchéng zhōng, zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔ le duō xiàng cuòshī.

In the process of reorganizing market order, the government has taken multiple measures.