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片段 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
片段piànduànfragment (of speech etc)HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #6373, Very Hard
片段piànduànextract (from book etc)HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #6373, Very Hard
片段piànduànepisode (of story etc)HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #6373, Very Hard
piànduàn(pian4duan4)pian duan T4
  1. 1fragment (of speech etc)
  2. 2extract (from book etc)
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March 24, 2026

片段piànduàn(pian4duan4)

片段 refers to a fragment or excerpt, often used in literary or conversational contexts. It can describe a specific part of a text, a scene from a story, or even a brief segment of speech, highlighting its incomplete or partial nature.

Strokes13Frequency#6373DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese literature and films, 片段 is often used to discuss dramatic scenes or pivotal moments that significantly impact the story, reflecting the importance of 'moments' in storytelling.

Memory tip

Think of 片段 as a 'piece' of something. The character 片 (pian4) resembles a slice or fragment, while 段 (duan4) can remind you of a 'segment' or 'section.' Picture slicing a cake into pieces, where each slice represents a 片段.

Meanings of 片段

piànduàn(pian4duan4)
1fragment (of speech etc)
2extract (from book etc)
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About 片段

片段Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 片段

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AI study notes for 片段

Quick Contrast

节选 (jiéxuǎn) vs 片段 (piànduàn): use 节选 when emphasizing a selected excerpt from a larger work, whereas 片段 highlights a fragment that may not be formally chosen.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 片段 with 整体 (zheng3 ti3), which means 'whole' or 'entirety.' It is more commonly used in informal contexts, such as discussing movies or books. Common collocations include 片段视频 (video clip) and 文章片段 (excerpt from an article).

HSK Study Tips

While 片段 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to themes of literature and communication found in lower HSK levels. Focus on recognizing its components and using it in context to describe parts of texts or conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 片段 when they mean 'whole' or 'complete.' For example, saying '我有一个完整的片段' ('I have a complete fragment') is contradictory. Instead, say '我有一个完整的故事' ('I have a complete story').

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 片段

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Component characters

片piànthin piece
HSK 44 strokes片
View full entry
段duànparagraph
HSK 39 strokes殳
View full entry

How to say fragment (of speech etc) in Chinese

“fragment (of speech etc)” in Chinese is片段piànduàn

片段 refers to a fragment or excerpt, often used in literary or conversational contexts. It can describe a specific part of a text, a scene from a story, or even a brief segment of speech, highlighting its incomplete or partial nature.

When to use 片段

Be careful not to confuse 片段 with 整体 (zheng3 ti3), which means 'whole' or 'entirety.' It is more commonly used in informal contexts, such as discussing movies or books. Common collocations include 片段视频 (video clip) and 文章片段 (excerpt from an article).

片段 or something close to it

节选 (jiéxuǎn) vs 片段 (piànduàn): use 节选 when emphasizing a selected excerpt from a larger work, whereas 片段 highlights a fragment that may not be formally chosen.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 片段 when they mean 'whole' or 'complete.' For example, saying '我有一个完整的片段' ('I have a complete fragment') is contradictory. Instead, say '我有一个完整的故事' ('I have a complete story').

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片
段

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Frequently asked questions about 片段

Yes, you can refer to a fragment of a song or a music clip as 片段.

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