断

斷

duàn

斤 + 米 + 𠃊

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

duàn (verb) to break; to snap; to cut off

duàn (verb) to stop; to give up; to abstain from

duàn (verb) to judge; to conclude

duàn (adverb) definitely; decidedly

Etymology

Simplified form of 斷. Depicts cutting off threads (斷) with an axe (斤)

About

断 is a simplified form of 斷, which combines 斤 (axe) on the right with 㡭 (silk threads) on the left to depict cutting threads with an axe. The simplified left side comes from a cursive abbreviation, while retaining the axe component to preserve the core meaning of severing or breaking. Over time, the character's sense expanded beyond physical cutting to abstract ideas like making decisive judgments, concluding matters, or stopping a process entirely.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的铅笔断掉了。

Wǒ de qiānbǐ duàndiào le.

My pencil broke.

绳子突然断了。

Shéngzi tūrán duàn le.

The rope suddenly broke.

他不断努力学习。

Tā bùduàn nǔlì xuéxí.

He constantly studies hard.

请判断对错。

Qǐng pànduàn duìcuò.

Please judge right or wrong.

他们断绝了联系。

Tāmen duànjué le liánxì.

They cut off contact.

医生诊断他得了流感。

Yīshēng zhěnduàn tā dé le liúgǎn.

The doctor diagnosed him with the flu.

不断进步才能取得成功。

Bùduàn jìnbù cáinéng qǔdé chénggōng.

Only by making continuous progress can one achieve success.

在做出决定之前，需要仔细判断所有情况。

Zài zuò chū juédìng zhīqián, xūyào zǐxì pànduàn suǒyǒu qíngkuàng.

Before making a decision, one needs to carefully judge all situations.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 斤

Component: 米

Component: 𠃊

断