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斩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
斩
zhǎn
to behead (as form of capital punishment)
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #12542, Very Hard
斩
zhǎn
to chop
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #12542, Very Hard
斩
zhǎn
to chop, to cut, to sever; to behead
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #12542, Very Hard
zhǎn(zhan3)zhan T3
1to behead (as form of capital punishment)
2to chop
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March 24, 2026
斩(斬)zhǎn(zhan3)
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.
Strokes8Radical车Frequency#12542DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In ancient China, beheading was a common form of capital punishment, reflecting the strict legal system and societal values of the time. The character 斩 often appears in historical texts and literature depicting justice and punishment.
Memory tip
Imagine a fierce warrior wielding a sharp sword, ready to斩 (zhǎn) down on his opponent. The left part of the character, '刀' (dāo), means 'knife', while '斬' has a similar sound to 'chop' in English, helping you remember its meaning.
Meanings of 斩
zhǎn(zhan3)
1to behead (as form of capital punishment)
2to chop
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 斩 means.
About 斩
斩Simplified
斬Traditional
8Strokes
车Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#12542Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 斩
Podcast: 斩
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AI study notes for 斩
Quick Contrast
斩 (zhǎn) vs 切 (qiē) — use 斩 for beheading or severe cuts, while 切 is for general cutting or slicing.
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Common Mistakes
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).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 斩
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Example
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Knowing 斩 is seven skills, not one.
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.
斩 = 斤 + 车. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 斩
IDS Structure⿰车斤
斩Full character
=
车Che1
left
斤jin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 斩?
How to say to behead (as form of capital punishment) in Chinese
“to behead (as form of capital punishment)” in Chinese is斩zhǎn
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
斩
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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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
“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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1
“你不需要那么做，”珀尔斩钉截铁地说道。
“ nǐ bù xūyào nàme zuò，” pò ěr zhǎndīngjiétiě dì shuōdào。
"You don't need to do that," said Pearl assertively.
2
查理一世被克伦威尔派斩首。
chá lǐ yī shì bèi kè lún wēi ěr pài zhǎn shǒu。
Charles I was beheaded by the Cromwellians.
3
人们发现他被斩首的尸体漂浮在一条水渠里。
rénmen fāxiàn tā bèi zhǎn shǒu de shītǐ piāofú zài yī tiáo shuǐ jù lǐ。
His decapitated body was found floating in a canal.
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Word Family of 斩
Compounds7
暂zàntemporary
渐jiānto imbue
崭chánvariant of 嶄
惭cánvariant of 慚
堑qiànmoat, pit, trench; cavity
錾zànchisel, engraving tool
椠qiànwooden tablet; edition
Words containing this character13
斩zhǎnto chop斬
斩首zhǎnshǒuto behead斬首
斩断zhǎnduànto cut off斬斷
斩草除根zhǎncǎochúgēnto eliminate completely斬草除根
斩钉截铁zhǎndīngjiétiěunhesitating斬釘截鐵
过关斩将guòguānzhǎnjiàngabbr. for 過五關斬六將|过五关斩六将[guòwǔguānzhǎnliùjiàng]過關斬將
披荆斩棘pījīngzhǎnjíto break through hardships披荊斬棘
先斩后奏xiānzhǎnhòuzòufirst decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later先斬後奏
腰斩yāozhǎnto cut sth in half腰斬
过五关斩六将guòwǔguānzhǎnliùjiànglit. to cross five passes and slay six generals (idiom)過五關斬六將
快刀斩乱麻kuàidāozhǎnluànmácutting the Gordian knot快刀斬亂麻
白斩鸡báizhǎnjīCantonese poached chicken, known as "white cut chicken"白斬雞
满门抄斩mǎnménchāozhǎnto execute the whole family unto the third generation滿門抄斬
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 斩
What does 暂 mean?
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.
It is not commonly used in everyday conversation due to its formal and severe implications.
You can use it in a sentence like: 他被斩首了, meaning 'He was beheaded.'
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