断 (duàn) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

断

duàn[duan4]Tone 4

to break, to cut off, to judge, absolutely

HSK 3

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斷

Guru Deep Dive

English · to break, to cut off, to judge, absolutely

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:11

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (米 combined with 斤 parts) and right side (ax/axe component) must be carefully proportioned so neither overwhelms the other.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 斷 was simplified to 断 by streamlining the left side components into a simpler structure while maintaining the semantic axe radical on the right.

1. Meaning

to break or snap in two; to cut off

to give up or abstain from somethingto judge or decideabsolutely or definitely (usually in the negative)

Verb / AdverbNeutral#action#judgment#state

Sample Usage

这座桥断了，不能通行。
Zhè zuò qiáo duàn le, bù néng tōng xíng.
This bridge is broken and cannot be passed.
我们绝不能放弃。
Wǒmen jué bù néng fàng qì.
We must absolutely not give up.

2. Sound

/[twän⁵¹]/Tone: 51

断

duànduan4

`(51)

=duàn

Initial Consonant

Type: Unaspirated Alveolar

Sounds like: d sound like in English 'dog'

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: No puff of air. Tissue remains still (sounds like English 't' in 'stop').

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip touches the alveolar ridge behind the upper front teeth, releasing cleanly without an extra puff of air.

Final Rhyme

uan

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: -uan rhymes with 'wan' in wand

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'wahn'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T4 (51)

5 → 1 (51)

4th Tone (High-Falling)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops abruptly like an emphatic 'No!' or a sharp command.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the fourth tone falling contour with the third tone dipping contour.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, forceful downward karate chop, starting high and dropping instantly to the floor.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 11 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (米 combined with 斤 parts) and right side (ax/axe component) must be carefully proportioned so neither overwhelms the other.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 斷 was simplified to 断 by streamlining the left side components into a simpler structure while maintaining the semantic axe radical on the right.

4. Components

Radical 斤 · Axe Radical (axe, cutting tool)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 斤 (Indicates cutting, chopping, or splitting.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 𠂉 (original sound: duan)

An axe (斤) chops through rice grain bundles or threads, completely cutting them in two (断).

米 Rice or grain
斤 Axe, implying cutting or severing

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

2· Phonetic Root: 断 (duàn)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally depicted an axe chopping something apart to separate it into distinct pieces.

Semantic Evolution: From the physical act of chopping or snapping a cord/object to abstract senses like cutting off ties, making a firm judgment, or absolute negation.

The axe component (斤) has consistently represented cutting implements across millennia of Chinese script evolution.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: ダン / Kun: た.つ, ことわ.る

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

단

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine an executioner using a heavy axe (斤) to chop a stalk of grain (米) in half, making a clean cut that completely ends (断) its growth.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

缎

duànsatinAdded silk radical (纟) on the left for fabric.

煅

duànto calcine / forgeAdded fire radical (火) on the left for metalworking.

椴

duànlinden / basswoodAdded wood radical (木) on the left for trees.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

不断(bù duàn)

Not a single character confusion, but remember 断 means to cut, whereas 不断 means continuous (not cut).

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

这根绳子太旧了，一拉就___了。

Clue: duàn

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the fourth tone pronunciation with third tone or writing the complex traditional structure instead of the simplified form.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 断, what physical action does its right-side axe radical (斤) signify?

Production: How do you write the character for 'to break / cut off' (duàn) using an axe and grain component?

断duànto break, to cut off, to judge, absolutely

Speed:

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