断

duàn: 断 - To Break, To Cut Off, To Sever

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 断, duan, duàn, Chinese character break, cut off Chinese, sever, stop, interrupt, quit, Chinese grammar, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 4, 断了, 断电, 断绝关系, 判断, learn Chinese
  • Summary: Learn the versatile Chinese character 断 (duàn), a fundamental verb for expressing “to break,” “to cut,” or “to sever.” This page explores how 断 is used for everything from a physical break, like a snapped rope or a power outage (断电), to metaphorical separations, such as cutting off contact with someone or quitting a bad habit. Discover its cultural significance in decision-making (判断) and its practical, everyday use in modern spoken Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): duàn
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Adverb
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To break, cut off, sever, or stop.
  • In a Nutshell: 断 (duàn) describes a separation or interruption in something that was previously whole or continuous. Picture a string snapping, a power line being cut, or a phone call dropping. It signifies a clear, often decisive, end to a connection or flow. This concept applies to both physical objects (a broken bone) and abstract ideas (breaking a habit, severing a relationship).

Character Breakdown

  • The character 断 is a powerful pictograph that shows an action. It's composed of two parts:
  • 斤 (jīn): This radical on the right represents an “axe” or a similar cutting tool. It provides the meaning of force and the action of cutting.
  • The left side (⿱⿰幺幺丨): This part originally depicted threads of silk (幺 resembles a silk thread or cocoon).
  • Together, they create a vivid image: using an axe (斤) to chop through threads. This perfectly illustrates the core meaning of severing, cutting something decisively in two.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, 断 (duàn) carries a strong sense of finality and decisiveness. It's not just a passive break; it's often an active “cutting off.” This is reflected in words related to judgment and decision-making.
  • Decisiveness: Words like 判断 (pànduàn) (to judge) and 决断 (juéduàn) (to make a firm decision) use 断 to imply “cutting” through ambiguity to arrive at a clear conclusion. A good leader is expected to have 决断力 (juéduànlì), or decisiveness.
  • Severing Ties: The act of 断绝关系 (duànjué guānxì), or severing a relationship, is culturally a very serious and profound action, especially within a family. In a collectivistic culture that highly values family cohesion and social harmony, to 断 a connection is a grave step, often seen as a last resort. This is more severe than the casual Western concept of “ghosting,” which is passive avoidance. 断绝关系 is an active, often declared, separation.
  • Modern Minimalism: The Japanese concept of 断舍离 (duàn shě lí) has become very popular in China. It translates to “cut off, discard, separate” and embodies the principles of minimalism—cutting ties with materialism and unnecessary clutter to improve one's life.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Physical Breaks: Used for long, thin objects that snap in two.
    • e.g., A rope, a stick, a bone, a pencil.
  • Interruption of Utilities: This is an extremely common, everyday usage.
    • 断电 (duàndiàn): Power outage
    • 断网 (duànwǎng): Internet outage
    • 断水 (duànshuǐ): Water supply cut off
  • Ending Relationships & Contact:
    • 断了联系 (duànle liánxì): To lose contact, to cut off contact.
    • 断绝关系 (duànjué guānxì): A more formal and serious way to say “sever ties.”
  • Quitting a Habit: Implies a firm, decisive stop.
    • e.g., “I need to quit this addiction” - a common phrasing is to 断 it.
  • Abstract Concepts:
    • 打断 (dǎduàn): To interrupt someone speaking.
    • 判断 (pànduàn): To judge or determine.
    • 诊断 (zhěnduàn): To diagnose (a medical judgment).

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 太用力了，绳子断了。
    • Pinyin: Tài yònglì le, shéngzi duàn le.
    • English: You used too much force, the rope broke.
    • Analysis: A simple, literal example of a physical break. 断了 (duàn le) indicates the completed action of breaking.
  • Example 2:
    • 昨天晚上我们小区突然断电了。
    • Pinyin: Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒmen xiǎoqū tūrán duàndiàn le.
    • English: Our neighborhood suddenly had a power outage last night.
    • Analysis: 断电 (duàndiàn) is a set phrase combining “break” and “electricity.” This is a very common and practical use of the character.
  • Example 3:
    • 他们分手以后，就彻底断了联系。
    • Pinyin: Tāmen fēnshǒu yǐhòu, jiù chèdǐ duàn le liánxì.
    • English: After they broke up, they completely cut off contact.
    • Analysis: Here, 断 is used metaphorically to describe the severing of communication and a relationship.
  • Example 4:
    • 他踢足球的时候不小心把腿摔断了。
    • Pinyin: Tā tī zúqiú de shíhou bù xiǎoxīn bǎ tuǐ shuāi duàn le.
    • English: He accidentally broke his leg while playing soccer.
    • Analysis: A common way to talk about breaking a bone. The structure is `把 (bǎ) + [object] + [verb] + 断了`.
  • Example 5:
    • 请不要打断我说话，让我先把话说完。
    • Pinyin: Qǐng búyào dǎduàn wǒ shuōhuà, ràng wǒ xiān bǎ huà shuō wán.
    • English: Please don't interrupt me, let me finish what I'm saying first.
    • Analysis: 打断 (dǎduàn) is a compound verb meaning “to interrupt.” The 打 (dǎ) adds a sense of action or force to the interruption.
  • Example 6:
    • 根据我的判断，这个计划是行不通的。
    • Pinyin: Gēnjù wǒ de pànduàn, zhège jìhuà shì xíngbutōng de.
    • English: Based on my judgment, this plan is not feasible.
    • Analysis: Shows the abstract use of 断 in the noun 判断 (pànduàn), meaning “judgment.”
  • Example 7:
    • 医生诊断他得了肺炎。
    • Pinyin: Yīshēng zhěnduàn tā déle fèiyán.
    • English: The doctor diagnosed him with pneumonia.
    • Analysis: 诊断 (zhěnduàn) is the specific term for a medical diagnosis, another example of an abstract, decisive conclusion.
  • Example 8:
    • 为了健康，他下定决心把烟断了。
    • Pinyin: Wèile jiànkāng, tā xiàdìng juéxīn bǎ yān duàn le.
    • English: For the sake of his health, he made up his mind to quit smoking.
    • Analysis: A great example of using 断 to mean “quit” a habit. It implies a clean, complete break.
  • Example 9:
    • 因为严重的矛盾，他和他父亲断绝了父子关系。
    • Pinyin: Yīnwèi yánzhòng de máodùn, tā hé tā fùqīn duànjué le fùzǐ guānxì.
    • English: Due to a serious conflict, he severed the father-son relationship with his father.
    • Analysis: 断绝 (duànjué) is a very strong, formal term used for completely cutting off ties, often in serious or legal contexts.
  • Example 10:
    • 他的思路突然断了，不知道接下来该说什么。
    • Pinyin: Tā de sīlù tūrán duàn le, bù zhīdào jiēxiàlái gāi shuō shénme.
    • English: His train of thought suddenly broke, and he didn't know what to say next.
    • Analysis: A perfect metaphorical use. “Train of thought” (思路) is treated like a continuous line that can be “broken.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `断 (duàn)` vs. `破 (pò)`: This is a crucial distinction for beginners.
    • 断 (duàn) is for long, thin things that break into two or more pieces (e.g., a rope, a stick, a bone, a connection). Think “snap.”
    • 破 (pò) is for surfaces that get a hole, crack, or shatter (e.g., a bowl, a window, skin, clothes). Think “shatter” or “tear.”
    • Correct: 绳子断了。(The rope snapped.) | 碗破了。(The bowl is broken/shattered.)
    • Incorrect: ~~绳子破了。~~ | ~~碗断了。~~
  • Not a Universal “Break”: You cannot use 断 for every situation where “break” is used in English.
    • For “break a promise,” you use 违背承诺 (wéibèi chéngnuò).
    • For “take a break,” you use 休息一下 (xiūxi yíxià).
    • For “break a record,” you use 打破纪录 (dǎpò jìlù).
    • Remember, 断 is specifically about severing a continuity.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 打断 (dǎduàn) - To interrupt; a verb specifically for cutting someone off while they are speaking or doing something.
  • 折断 (zhéduàn) - To snap (by bending); more specific than 断, often used for rigid items like sticks or pencils that are broken by force.
  • 判断 (pànduàn) - To judge, determine; an abstract use of 断 to signify making a clear decision.
  • 诊断 (zhěnduàn) - To diagnose; the medical term for making a judgment about an illness.
  • 断绝 (duànjué) - To sever, to cut off (completely); a more formal and stronger synonym for breaking ties or relationships.
  • 间断 (jiànduàn) - To be intermittent, disconnected; describes something that stops and starts, focusing on the periodic nature of the break.
  • 破 (pò) - To be broken, to shatter; a related but distinct concept for breaking surfaces or fragile objects, not snapping long ones.
  • 断舍离 (duàn shě lí) - A popular modern concept of minimalism, meaning “to cut off, to discard, to separate.”