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`.