断 duàn sever
sever; to break; to cut off; to judge
How to remember 断: 𠃊 corner + 米 rice + 斤 catty = sever. In the corner of the rice field after the storm, the farmer swings an axe weighing three catties to sever the fallen trunk.
Component breakdown
断 = 𠃊 corner + 米 rice + 斤 catty
- 𠃊 corner
- 米 rice
- 斤 catty
In the corner of the rice field after the storm, the farmer swings an axe weighing three catties to sever the fallen trunk.
How it is used
- To break off/sever/interrupt - 断了 (duàn le) snapped/broken, 打断 (dǎduàn) interrupt, 中断 (zhōngduàn) cut short.
- 不断 (búduàn) = continuously/unceasingly: 不断进步 (búduàn jìnbù) keep improving.
- 判断 (pànduàn) judge, 断定 (duàndìng) conclude for certain - the "decide" sense (settle a matter by cutting through it).
Words with 断
- 判断pànduànto judgeHSK 4
- 不断búduànunceasingHSK 4
- 打断dǎduànto interruptHSK 5
- 诊断zhěnduànto diagnoseHSK 5
- 中断zhōngduànto cut shortHSK 6
- 推断tuīduànto inferHSK 7
- 断定duàndìngto concludeHSK 7
- 断断续续duànduànxùxùintermittentHSK 7
- 断然duànránresoluteHSK 7
- 断绝duànjuéto severHSK 7
- 果断guǒduànfirmHSK 7
- 间断jiànduàndisconnectedHSK 7
- 垄断lǒngduànto monopolizeHSK 8
- 当机立断dāngjī-lìduànto make prompt decisions (idiom)HSK 8
- 断章取义duànzhāng-qǔyìto quote out of contextHSK 8
- 断裂duànlièfractureHSK 8
- 源源不断yuányuán-búduànin an unending streamHSK 9
Example sentences
- 他的判断很准确。 Tā de pànduàn hěn zhǔnquè.His judgment was very accurate.
- 地球在不断地演变。 Dìqiú zài búduàn de yǎnbiàn.The earth is constantly evolving.