duànluò: 段落 - Paragraph, Section, Passage

• Keywords: duanluo, 段落, Chinese paragraph, Chinese section, what is duanluo, 段落 meaning, Chinese writing structure, Chinese essay format, HSK 4, Chinese composition
• Summary: “段落 (duànluò)” is the essential Chinese word for “paragraph,” the fundamental building block of written text. Understanding duànluò is crucial for both reading comprehension and effective writing in Chinese, from simple emails to formal essays. This page explores its meaning, its role in the classic Chinese writing structure, and its practical use in modern communication, helping you master how to structure your thoughts in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): duànluò
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A distinct section of a piece of writing, typically dealing with a single theme and marked by a new line or indentation.
• In a Nutshell: Just like “paragraph” in English, 段落 (duànluò) is a group of sentences organized around a single main idea. When you're reading a Chinese book, news article, or website, each block of text separated by a space or an indent is a duànluò. It's the basic organizational unit for any piece of writing longer than a few sentences.

• 段 (duàn): This character means “segment,” “section,” or “part.” Think of it as a piece of something longer, like a segment of a road (一段路 - yí duàn lù) or a period of time (一段时间 - yí duàn shíjiān). It visually represents a piece that has been cut or separated.
• 落 (luò): This character means “to fall,” “to drop,” or “to settle.” In this context, it implies a place where something comes to a rest or a conclusion.
• Combined Meaning: The characters combine to mean a “segment” (段) of text where a thought “settles” (落) or concludes. It's a self-contained section that forms a complete, yet connected, part of a larger whole.

While “paragraph” might seem like a universal, culture-free concept, its application in Chinese writing connects to a rich rhetorical tradition. Traditionally, Chinese texts were written without modern punctuation or paragraph breaks. The division of thought was a matter of rhetorical flow understood by the educated reader. The modern visual 段落 (with indentation and line breaks) was largely adopted from the West. However, the underlying structure of how paragraphs are organized often follows a classic four-part structure known as 起承转合 (qǐ chéng zhuǎn hé), especially in argumentative or narrative writing.

• 起 (qǐ) - Opening: The first 段落 introduces the topic or story.
• 承 (chéng) - Development: The following one or two 段落 elaborate on the topic, providing evidence or developing the narrative.
• 转 (zhuǎn) - Turn: This is a crucial 段落 that introduces a twist, a new perspective, or a counter-argument. It creates complexity and interest.
• 合 (hé) - Conclusion: The final 段落 brings everything together, summarizing the points and providing a resolution or concluding thought.

This structure is different from the common five-paragraph essay (Introduction, Body 1, Body 2, Body 3, Conclusion) taught in many Western schools. While both use paragraphs as building blocks, the 起承转合 model emphasizes a more dynamic, flowing progression of ideas, with the “turn” (转) being a key feature. Understanding this can give you a deeper appreciation for the logic and artistry of Chinese essays.

段落 is a fundamental term used in any context involving written text. In Education and Study: This is where you'll hear it most. A teacher might say:

• 请大家读课文的第一段落。 (Qǐng dàjiā dú kèwén de dì yī duànluò.) - “Everyone, please read the first paragraph of the text.”
• 这一段落的中心思想是什么？ (Zhè yí duànluò de zhōngxīn sīxiǎng shì shénme?) - “What is the main idea of this paragraph?”

In the Workplace: When reviewing documents, contracts, or reports, 段落 is used to specify a location.

• 关于预算的部分，请看合同的第五段落。 (Guānyú yùsuàn de bùfen, qǐng kàn hétong de dì wǔ duànluò.) - “Regarding the budget, please see the fifth paragraph of the contract.”

The Common Abbreviation: 段 (duàn) In everyday conversation, it's far more common to shorten 段落 to just 段 (duàn). This is a crucial tip for sounding natural.

• 你写的这一段太长了。 (Nǐ xiě de zhè yí duàn tài cháng le.) - “This paragraph you wrote is too long.”
• 下一段是谁来读？ (Xià yí duàn shì shéi lái dú?) - “Who's reading the next paragraph?”

The formality is neutral. 段落 is slightly more formal and complete, while 段 is the default in most spoken situations.

Example 1:

• 这篇文章一共有七个段落。
• Pinyin: Zhè piān wénzhāng yígòng yǒu qī gè duànluò.
• English: This article has seven paragraphs in total.
• Analysis: A simple, declarative sentence stating the number of paragraphs. `个 (gè)` is the common measure word for 段落.

Example 2:

• 老师让我们为每个段落写一个总结。
• Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen wèi měi gè duànluò xiě yí gè zǒngjié.
• English: The teacher asked us to write a summary for each paragraph.
• Analysis: Shows 段落 used in an educational context, as the object of a task.

Example 3:

• 我没看懂第二个段落的意思。
• Pinyin: Wǒ méi kàndǒng dì èr gè duànluò de yìsi.
• English: I didn't understand the meaning of the second paragraph.
• Analysis: A common sentence for a language learner or student expressing confusion about a specific part of a text.

Example 4:

• 一个好的段落通常有一个主题句。
• Pinyin: Yí gè hǎo de duànluò tōngcháng yǒu yí gè zhǔtí jù.
• English: A good paragraph usually has one topic sentence.
• Analysis: This sentence describes the quality and structure of a 段落 itself.

Example 5:

• 请把这一段落的重点划出来。
• Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ zhè yí duànluò de zhòngdiǎn huà chūlái.
• English: Please underline the main points of this paragraph.
• Analysis: Uses the `把 (bǎ)` structure to perform an action (underlining) on the 段落. Note the use of the measure word `段` would also be natural here: `这一段 (zhè yí duàn)`.

Example 6:

• 文章的最后两个段落是结论部分。
• Pinyin: Wénzhāng de zuìhòu liǎng gè duànluò shì jiélùn bùfen.
• English: The last two paragraphs of the article are the concluding part.
• Analysis: Demonstrates how to refer to multiple paragraphs and their function within a larger article (`文章`).

Example 7:

• 他的报告逻辑不清晰，段落之间没有联系。
• Pinyin: Tā de bàogào luójí bù qīngxī, duànluò zhījiān méiyǒu liánxì.
• English: His report's logic is unclear; there's no connection between the paragraphs.
• Analysis: A more advanced sentence used to critique a piece of writing, highlighting the importance of flow between paragraphs.

Example 8:

• 我们来分析一下作者在这一段落里运用的写作技巧。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen lái fēnxī yíxià zuòzhě zài zhè yí duànluò lǐ yùnyòng de xiězuò jìqiǎo.
• English: Let's analyze the writing techniques the author used in this paragraph.
• Analysis: Shows a literary or academic use of the term.

Example 9:

• 我建议你把这个长段落分成两个短的。
• Pinyin: Wǒ jiànyì nǐ bǎ zhè ge cháng duànluò fēnchéng liǎng gè duǎn de.
• English: I suggest you split this long paragraph into two shorter ones.
• Analysis: Practical advice for editing or writing, showing the verb `分 (fēn)` (to divide/split).

Example 10:

• 这一段（落）写得特别好，感情真挚。
• Pinyin: Zhè yí duàn(luò) xiě de tèbié hǎo, gǎnqíng zhēnzhì.
• English: This paragraph is written exceptionally well; the emotion is sincere.
• Analysis: This example shows how 段 is the more natural spoken form, with 落 being optional and making it slightly more formal or emphatic.

• Mistake 1: Using 段落 when 段 is more natural.
  • In spoken Chinese, especially when pointing something out, using the full 段落 can sound a bit stiff or overly formal.
  • Stiff: 你看这个段落。(Nǐ kàn zhège duànluò.)
  • Natural: 你看这一段。(Nǐ kàn zhè yí duàn.)
  • Rule of Thumb: When counting or referring to a specific paragraph informally, use 段 (duàn). Use the full 段落 (duànluò) when talking about the concept of a paragraph in general or in more formal writing.
• Mistake 2: Confusing 段落 (duànluò) with 节 (jié).
  • 段落 (duànluò) is a “paragraph.”
  • 节 (jié) is a “section,” which is a larger unit. A chapter (章 zhāng) can be divided into sections (节 jié), and each section can contain multiple paragraphs (段落).
  • Incorrect: 这本书的第一段落很长。 (This would mean the very first paragraph of the book is long).
  • Correct (if you mean section): 这本书的第一节很长。 (This means “Section 1” of the book is long).
• Mistake 3: Using 段落 as a verb.
  • You cannot “paragraph” something in Chinese, just as in English. You “divide into paragraphs.”
  • Incorrect: 请你段落这篇文章。
  • Correct: 请你给这篇文章分段。 (Qǐng nǐ gěi zhè piān wénzhāng fēn duàn.) - “Please divide this article into paragraphs.” The verb is 分段 (fēn duàn).

• 分段 (fēn duàn) - (Verb) To divide into paragraphs; to segment. This is the action of creating 段落.
• 句子 (jùzi) - Sentence. The primary component of a 段落.
• 文章 (wénzhāng) - Article; essay. A complete piece of writing made up of multiple 段落.
• 章节 (zhāngjié) - Chapter and section. Larger organizational units that contain 段落.
• 主题句 (zhǔtí jù) - Topic sentence. The sentence that expresses the main idea of a 段落.
• 起承转合 (qǐ chéng zhuǎn hé) - A traditional four-part structure for composition, where each part might consist of one or more 段落.
• 词语 (cíyǔ) - Word; term. The building blocks of a 句子.
• 标点符号 (biāodiǎn fúhào) - Punctuation marks. Essential for separating sentences within a 段落.