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  5. 断

断 (duàn): To break — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 2.0Level 5
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Level 5
HSK 3.0:Recognition 4Writing 4
HSK 2.0Level 5
HSK 3.0Vocab 5Recognition 4Writing 4
1.

Animated Stroke Order 断

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 断 — animated stroke order

182 learners practiced this

2.

Stroke Order Diagrams 断

断 stroke order diagram
3.

Character Breakdown

Left-Right
断
㡭jì
斤jīn · axe
断=
4.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 断

断 handwriting practice worksheet preview
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 5 PDF pack
5.

How to Use 断

Break and stop

In break-related words, 断 (duàn) means to interrupt, cut off, or physically snap.

中断 • zhōng duàn • suspend; cut short; break off; discontinue • HSK 6
HSK 6
6.

HSK Vocabulary: 断

诊断 • zhěn duàn • diagnosis
HSK 5
zhěn诊
duàn
7.

Example Sentences

tā他
zuò做
shì事
fēi非
cháng常
guǒ果
duàn

Information

Pinyinduàn
Meaningto break
Strokes11
Radical斤
Traditional斷
StructureLeft-Right
Frequency#868
Zhuyinㄉㄨㄢˋ
UnicodeU+65AD
CangjieVIDL
㡭jì
+斤jīn · axe
zhōng中
duàn断

suspend; cut short; break off; discontinue

断绝 • duàn jué • break off; cut off; sever • HSK 6
HSK 6
duàn断
jué绝

break off; cut off; sever

打断 • dǎ duàn • to interrupt • HSK 3.0 · L5
HSK 3.0 · L5
dǎ打
duàn断

to interrupt

断裂 • duàn liè • To break / to fracture / to crack • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
duàn断
liè裂

To break / to fracture / to crack

Judgment and conclusion

In decision words, 断 (duàn) means to judge, conclude, or act decisively.

判断 • pàn duàn • to decide • HSK 4
HSK 4
pàn判
duàn断

to decide

断定 • duàn dìng • conclude; form a judgment • HSK 6
HSK 6
duàn断
dìng定

conclude; form a judgment

推断 • tuī duàn • Infer / Deduce • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
tuī推
duàn断

Infer / Deduce

果断 • guǒ duàn • resolute; decisive • HSK 6
HSK 6
guǒ果
duàn断

resolute; decisive

Continuous or repeated

In continuity words, 断 (duàn) describes something that is unceasing or happens intermittently.

不断 • bú duàn • ceaseless; uninterrupted; continual continuous; unceasing • HSK 5
HSK 5
bú不
duàn断

ceaseless; uninterrupted; continual continuous; unceasing

断断续续 • duàn duàn xù xù • intermittently / off and on • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
duàn断
duàn断
xù续
源源不断 • yuán yuán bú duàn • In a steady stream / Continuously • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
yuán源
yuán源
bú不
断

diagnosis

垄断 • lǒng duàn • monopolise; forestall
HSK 6
lǒng垄
duàn断

monopolise; forestall

片断 • piàn duàn • segment
HSK 6
piàn片
duàn断

segment

断然 • duàn rán • Decidedly
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
duàn断
rán然

Decidedly

间断 • jiàn duàn • Interruption / Discontinuity
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
jiàn间
duàn断

Interruption / Discontinuity

当机立断 • dāng jī lì duàn • Make a prompt decision
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
dāng当
jī机
lì立
duàn断

Make a prompt decision

断
。

He is very decisive in his work.

tā他
yòng用
dāo刀
zhǎn斩
duàn断
le了
shéng绳
zi子
。

He cut the rope with a knife.

tā他
yòng用
lì力
zhé折
duàn断
le了
qiān铅
bǐ笔
。

He broke the pencil with force.

xiǎo小
xīn心
diǎn点
，
zhè这
gēn根
shéng绳
zi子
kuài快
duàn断
le了
。

Be careful, this rope is about to break.

wǒ我
men们
xū需
yào要
zuò做
chū出
zhèng正
què确
de的
pàn判
duàn断
。

We need to make the right judgment.

xù
续

intermittently / off and on

duàn
断

In a steady stream / Continuously

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK Level 5

Characters from the same exam level.

  • 堆duīheap; pile; crowd
  • 吨dūnton
  • 蹲dūnsquat on the heels; to crouch
  • 顿dùn[measure word for occurences, and therefore of meals]
  • 朵duǒstem; [measure word for flowers]
  • 翻fānturn over; turn around; reverse
View all HSK 5 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "duan".

  • 锻duànto forge metal
  • 端duānend; extremity
  • 缎duànsatin, a type of silk fabric
  • 段duànsection; paragraph; [measure word for stories, pieces of music, recordings etc.]
  • 短duǎnshort
View all "duan" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "斤".

  • 斤jīna unit of weight equal to 0.5 kilogram
  • 斥chìto blame, to reprimand; to expel, to reject
  • 斧fǔaxe; hatchet
  • 斯sīthis, here, thus
  • 斩zhǎnto chop off; to behead; to cut
  • 新xīnnew
View all "斤" radical characters →