Definitions

zhǎn (verb) to behead; to chop; to cut off

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound and represents the meaning. Simplified from .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character 斬 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the cart radical 車 (chē) on the left with the axe radical 斤 (jīn) on the right. Its simplified form 斩 retains the axe radical while updating the left component to the simplified cart character 车. The imagery of a heavy axe striking a cart or a person bound to one evokes the act of execution by chopping. Consequently, the core meaning is to cut, sever, or chop with a heavy blade. This sense is most commonly applied to the judicial act of beheading, severe physical cutting, or the decisive severing of abstract ties, connections, or negative circumstances.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他用刀断树枝。

Tā yòng dāo zhǎn duàn shùzhī.

He used a knife to cut off the tree branch.

勇士杀了凶恶的敌人。

Yǒngshì zhǎn shā le xiōng'è de dírén.

The warrior slew the vicious enemy.

这位选手获了三枚奖牌。

Zhè wèi xuǎnshǒu zhǎn huò le sān méi jiǎngpái.

This contestant won three medals.

厨师鸡骨的动作很熟练。

Chúshī zhǎn jīgǔ de dòngzuò hěn shúliàn.

The chef's action of chopping chicken bones is very skilled.

战争断了两国间的贸易。

Zhànzhēng zhǎn duàn le liǎng guó jiān de màoyì.

The war severed trade between the two countries.

他的新发明获了巨额投资。

Tā de xīn fāmíng zhǎn huò le jù'é tóuzī.

His new invention secured huge investments.

激光能够断坚硬的合金材料。

Jīguāng nénggòu zhǎn duàn jiānyìng de héjīn cáiliào.

Laser can cut through hard alloy materials.

政府决心断腐败的利益链条。

Zhèngfǔ juéxīn zhǎn duàn fǔbài de lìyì liàntiáo.

The government is determined to cut off the corruption interest chain.