断 Stroke Order — How to Write 断
断 is written in 11 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 斤, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
断 Radical and Character Components
断 is an ideographic compound. Using an axe 斤 to harvest grain 米.
Radical: 斤 + 7 more strokes
断 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- duàn
Meanings of 断 in Chinese
1
duàn断
To break, snap, or sever something long into two or more pieces.
她感觉自己就像一只断线风筝，在人群中迷失了方向。
She felt like a kite with a broken string, lost in the crowd.
to stop, to discontinue, to cut off (supply or connection), to sever (relations)
小宝宝已经一岁了，是时候断奶了。
The baby is already one year old; it's time to wean.
to judge; to decide; to determine; to diagnose
你需要对当前的市场形势做出准确的判断。
You need to make an accurate judgment about the current market situation.
Absolutely; decisively; without a doubt.
他断然拒绝了所有不合理的要求。
He flatly rejected all unreasonable demands.
Common Words and Phrases with 断
1
To judge or adjudicate a legal case.
这位经验丰富的法官以其公正无私地断案而闻名。
This experienced judge is known for impartially adjudicating cases.
2
Broken or collapsed walls; a steep cliff.
经过多年的风吹雨打，这座古老的建筑只剩下断壁残垣。
After years of wind and rain, only broken walls and dilapidated remains were left of the ancient building.
3
broken walls and dilapidated buildings; scene of ruins and devastation
那座古老的城堡在战火中只剩下断壁残垣，如今成为了一片废墟。
The ancient castle was reduced to crumbling walls and dilapidated structures by the war, now standing as a complete ruin.
4
Stray fragments of text or incomplete parts of ancient books/writings.
考古学家在古墓中发现了许多断编残简，它们虽然残缺不全，却为研究古代文化提供了宝贵的线索。
Archaeologists discovered many fragmentary ancient texts in the tomb, which, despite being incomplete, provided valuable clues for studying ancient culture.
5
Duàncéng (断层) primarily refers to a geological fault, which is a fracture in the Earth's crust where rocks have moved relative to each other. Figuratively, it denotes a significant break or discontinuity in a continuous sequence or development.
这次地震是由地壳深处的断层活动引起的
This earthquake was caused by fault activity deep within the Earth's crust.
6
Figuratively 'severed intestines,' it describes extreme emotional pain, such as heartbreak, or very intense feelings, including profound love.
那首哀婉的歌谣，听得人肝肠寸断。
That mournful ballad made people feel utterly heartbroken.
7
To run out of food or provisions due to poverty; to be unable to make a meal.
过去那些日子，奶奶家时常断炊，连温饱都成了奢望。
In those past days, Grandma's family often ran out of food, and even being adequately fed and clothed became a luxury.
8
periodization; to divide history into periods
考古学家正在努力对新发现的遗址进行断代
Archaeologists are striving to periodize the newly discovered site.
9
A dynastic history, a historical record focusing on a specific dynasty or historical period, such as the Book of Han or History of Song.
《资治通鉴》是一部编年体的通史，而《汉书》则是一部典范的断代史，只记录了西汉一代的历史。
'Zizhi Tongjian' is a chronological general history, whereas the 'Book of Han' is a classic example of dynastic history, recording only the events of the Western Han dynasty.
10
out of stock; shortage in supply
这种进口零食卖得太快，经常断档
This imported snack sells too quickly and is often out of stock.
11
A breakpoint is a point in a program or process where execution is intentionally paused, typically for inspection or debugging purposes.
调试代码时，我会在关键函数前设置一个断点，以便逐步检查变量的值。
When debugging code, I will set a breakpoint before a key function to step through and inspect the variable values.
12
To cut off the power supply.
维修人员为了安全，首先要断电才能开始修理。
For safety, maintenance personnel must first cut off the power before starting repairs.
13
To conclude or determine something after careful judgment.
经过长时间的观察，科学家断定这种植物具有独特的药用价值。
After long observation, scientists concluded that this plant has unique medicinal value.
14
15
Intermittent; off and on; discontinuous.
她断断续续地咳嗽了整个晚上，让人很担心
She coughed intermittently throughout the night, which made everyone very worried.
More words with 断
- guǒ果duàn断Resolute and decisive.
- zhěn诊duàn断diagnosis
- jué决duàn断Decision, Resolution
- zhé折duàn断break off
- zǔ阻duàn断block, obstruct
- gē割duàn断to sever; to cut off
- guǎ寡duàn断indecision, irresolute
- jiā夹duàn断Pinch off, Sever by clamping
- jié截duàn断To cut off; to sever; to interrupt.
- lǒng垄duàn断monopoly
- piàn片duàn断fragment, segment
- píng评duàn断comment and judge
- qiē切duàn断cut off, sever
- róng熔duàn断Circuit breaker
- wàng妄duàn断jump to conclusions
- yì臆duàn断conjecture, arbitrary assertion
- yù预duàn断prejudge
- cái裁duàn断To judge and decide
- cùn寸duàn断shattered, torn to pieces
- jiàn间duàn断interrupted or suspended
Idioms with 断
- duàn断bì壁tuí颓yuán垣dilapidated walls and crumbling ruins
- duàn断gēn根jué绝zhǒng种end a family line
- duàn断jiǎn简cán残biān编fragmentary and incomplete ancient books
- duàn断jǐng井tuí颓yuán垣dilapidated courtyard
- duàn断rán然bù不kě可absolutely must not
- duàn断rán然chǔ处zhì置deal with decisively
- duàn断rán然cuò措shī施decisive resolute drastic measures
- duàn断wǎ瓦tuí颓yuán垣ruins and dilapidated buildings
- duàn断wú无cǐ此lǐ理absolutely no such principle or reason
- duàn断xiàn线fēng风zhēng筝gone forever, lost beyond recall
- duàn断yàn雁gū孤hóng鸿a solitary unattached man
- duàn断yuán垣cán残bì壁crumbling ruins
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Open the tool →Questions about 断
What does 断 mean in Chinese?
断 (duàn) means “To break” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 断?
断 is pronounced duàn in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 断 have?
断 has 11 strokes.
How do you write 断?
断 is written in 11 strokes, starting from the radical 斤. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 断?
The radical of 断 is 斤, and 断 is an ideographic compound.
