短

duǎn

矢 + 豆

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

duǎn (adjective) short; brief

duǎn (adjective) inadequate; lacking

duǎn (noun) weakness; fault

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 矢 represents the meaning and 豆 represents the sound.

Semantic: 矢 Phonetic: 豆

About

The character 短 is a phono-semantic compound, with the semantic radical 矢 (arrow) and the phonetic component 豆 (bean or sacrificial vessel). The arrow radical relates to measurement, as arrows were historically used as units of length and references for straightness. Its primary meaning refers to physical shortness in length or stature, contrasting with 长 (long). This concept extended to temporal brevity, indicating a short duration of time, and metaphorically to shortcomings or faults in character.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的头发很短。

Tā de tóufa hěn duǎn.

His hair is very short.

我发了一条短信。

Wǒ fāle yī tiáo duǎnxìn.

I sent a text message.

会议时间很短。

Huìyì shíjiān hěn duǎn.

The meeting time is very short.

因为时间短，我们得快点儿。

Yīnwèi shíjiān duǎn, wǒmen déi kuài diǎnr.

Because the time is short, we have to hurry.

每个人都有自己的短处。

Měi gè rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de duǎnchù.

Everyone has their own shortcomings.

短期的旅行可以放松心情。

Duǎnqī de lǚxíng kěyǐ fàngsōng xīnqíng.

Short-term travel can relax the mind.

虽然假期很短，但我们玩得很开心。

Suīrán jiàqī hěn duǎn, dàn wǒmen wán de hěn kāixīn.

Although the vacation was short, we had a lot of fun.

在短时间内掌握一门外语是很困难的。

Zài duǎn shíjiān nèi zhǎngwò yī mén wàiyǔ shì hěn kùnnán de.

It is very difficult to master a foreign language in a short time.

Related Characters

Component: 矢

Component: 豆

短