Meanings of 斩
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Podcast: 斩
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AI Study Notes for 斩
斩 (zhǎn) vs 切 (qiē) — use 斩 for beheading or severe cuts, while 切 is for general cutting or slicing.
When using 斩, be cautious about its formal tone, as it often pertains to severe actions like capital punishment. Common collocations include 斩首 (behead) and 斩杀 (kill). Avoid confusing it with similar verbs like 剁 (duò), which implies chopping in smaller pieces.
As 斩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on recognizing its radicals and related terms such as 杀 (shā, kill) and 刀 (dāo, knife). Understanding the context in which it is used will enhance retention.
Learners often confuse 斩 with 剁 (duò). For instance, saying '我想斩这个肉' (I want to behead this meat) is incorrect; the correct term for cutting meat is 切 (qiē).
Pronunciation of 斩
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Jason Explains 斩 to You
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 斩
Simplified form of 斬. Beheading is a military action (车 - chariot) performed with an axe (斤).
axe
Origin
斩 = 斤 + 车. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 斩
Parts
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How to say to behead (as form of capital punishment) in Chinese
“to behead (as form of capital punishment)” in Chinese is斩
The character 斩 (zhǎn) primarily means 'to behead' or 'to chop'. It is often used in contexts related to cutting or severing, both literally and figuratively. The term can also carry connotations of capital punishment in historical or literary contexts.
When to use 斩
When using 斩, be cautious about its formal tone, as it often pertains to severe actions like capital punishment. Common collocations include 斩首 (behead) and 斩杀 (kill). Avoid confusing it with similar verbs like 剁 (duò), which implies chopping in smaller pieces.
斩 or something close to it
斩 (zhǎn) vs 切 (qiē) — use 斩 for beheading or severe cuts, while 切 is for general cutting or slicing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 斩 with 剁 (duò). For instance, saying '我想斩这个肉' (I want to behead this meat) is incorrect; the correct term for cutting meat is 切 (qiē).
Write 斩
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Practice writing 斩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 斩
斩 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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“你不需要那么做，”珀尔____钉截铁地说道。
"You don't need to do that," said Pearl assertively.
Example Sentences for 斩 (3)
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Word Family of 斩
Characters with 斩
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Frequently Asked Questions about 斩
In modern contexts, 斩 can refer to severe actions such as beheading or chopping, often used in literature or martial arts.
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