HSK · Level 43
120 words
Chinese word
斩
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhǎn
Meaning
- verbchop
Example
他用斧子把树枝斩断了。tā yòng fǔ zi bǎ shù zhī zhǎn duàn le
He used an ax to chop the branch off.
More examples
士兵用刀斩断了绳索。shì bīng yòng dāo zhǎn duàn le shéng suǒ
The soldier used a knife to sever the rope.
Core concept
A decisive cut that leaves a clear break, often with the sense of removing what has been cut away.
Common phrases
斩断zhǎn duàn
chop through
斩断关系zhǎn duàn guān xì
sever ties
斩掉树枝zhǎn diào shù zhī
cut off branches
Similar words
砍kǎn: To bring down or cut away wood or solid material using a heavy chopping motion.
切qiè: To divide or trim something into pieces with a knife, scissors, or similar tool.
劈pī: To cleave something into large sections along its length with a blade.
剁duò: To cut food or other material into many small pieces with repeated forceful chops.
Definition in Chinese
用刀、斧等一举切断或砍掉，多见于书面语或合成词，也可表示斩除、根除的意思。yòng dāo fǔ děng yì jǔ qiē duàn huò kǎn diào duō jiàn yú shū miàn yǔ huò hé chéng cí yě kě biǎo shì zhǎn chú gēn chú de yì si
Word origin
The written form of 斩 (zhǎn, "chop") retains 斤 (jīn, "axe"), a component that points to the tool behind the word's original cutting sense.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, 斩 (zhǎn, "chop") often sounds formal or literary, so it is especially common in fixed compounds and written descriptions rather than casual talk.
Other meanings
- cut offverb
- cutverb
Opposites
- 连接lián jiēconnectverb
- 结合jié héjoinverb
Related words
- 斩断zhǎn duànseververb
- 斩首zhán shǒubeheadverb