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| 段 [2025/08/14 20:56] – created xiaoer | 段 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== duàn: 段 - Section, Segment, Paragraph, Period (of time) ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** duan, 段, Chinese measure word, section, segment, paragraph, period of time, stage, level, Chinese for section, what does duan mean, 一段 | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese character **段 (duàn)**, a versatile term used as both a noun and a crucial measure word. This page breaks down how to use `段` to talk about a **section** of a road, a **period of time**, a **paragraph** of text, or even a **stage** in a relationship. Understand its core meaning, see practical examples, and avoid common mistakes to master one of the most useful characters for dividing the world into manageable parts. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** duàn | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Measure Word, Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A section, segment, piece, or part of something continuous; also used as a measure word for such parts. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Think of `段 (duàn)` as a way to chop up something large and continuous into a manageable "chunk" or "segment." This "something" can be physical, like a road (`一段路`), abstract, like time (`一段时间`), or written, like a text (`一段话`). It's the go-to word for expressing "a piece of..." when that piece is part of a longer whole. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **段 (duàn):** The character is a phono-semantic compound. The left side, **殳 (shū)**, is a radical that originally depicted an ancient long weapon or a hand striking with a tool. This gives `段` the core idea of "striking" or "breaking." Therefore, `段` carries the intrinsic meaning of something being cut, broken, or divided into pieces or sections. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| While `段` is a functional word, its broad usage reveals a practical and organized way of conceptualizing the world. It segments experiences, journeys, and even skill into measurable units. | |
| A helpful comparison is to English words like "stretch," "spell," and "passage." In English, we use different words for different contexts: a "stretch" of road, a "spell" of warm weather, a "passage" of a book. In Chinese, the measure word `段` elegantly covers all these concepts, highlighting a linguistic efficiency. You can have `一段路` (a stretch of road), `一段时间` (a period of time), and `一段话` (a passage of text). | |
| Furthermore, `段` is used in a culturally specific way to denote skill levels in martial arts or the game of Go (围棋 - wéiqí), such as `黑带三段` (hēidài sān duàn), a third-degree black belt. This reflects a structured, hierarchical view of mastering a skill, where progress is marked by advancing through distinct stages or `段`. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `段` is extremely common in daily life. Its usage primarily falls into two categories. | |
| === As a Measure Word (Most Common) === | |
| This is its primary function for beginners. It's always used in the structure: **`一 + 段 + Noun`** (a segment of [noun]). | |
| * **For Text/Speech:** `一段话` (a passage of speech), `一段文字` (a piece of text), `一段故事` (a story). | |
| * **For Time/Experience:** `一段时间` (a period of time), `一段往事` (a memory from the past), `一段感情` (a romantic relationship). | |
| * **For Physical Things:** `一段路` (a section of road), `一段距离` (a distance), `一段视频` (a video clip), `一段旋律` (a melody). | |
| === As a Noun (Usually in a Compound Word) === | |
| While it can mean "section" on its own, it's more common to see it as part of a two-character word. | |
| * `段落 (duànluò)` - paragraph | |
| * `阶段 (jiēduàn)` - stage, phase | |
| * `手段 (shǒuduàn)` - means, method (can have a negative connotation of being a "scheme" or "trick") | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 请你朗读课文的第一**段**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ lǎngdú kèwén de dì-yī **duàn**. | |
| * English: Please read the first paragraph of the text aloud. | |
| * Analysis: Here, `段` is used as a measure word for `课文` (text), specifically referring to a paragraph. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 我需要一**段**时间冷静一下。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào yī **duàn** shíjiān lěngjìng yīxià. | |
| * English: I need a period of time to calm down. | |
| * Analysis: A classic example of using `段` to quantify an abstract concept like time. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 这**段**路正在修，我们得绕道走。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè **duàn** lù zhèngzài xiū, wǒmen děi ràodào zǒu. | |
| * English: This section of the road is under construction, we have to take a detour. | |
| * Analysis: `段` is used here for a physical segment of a continuous path. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 他给我讲了一**段**关于他童年的有趣故事。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā gěi wǒ jiǎngle yī **duàn** guānyú tā tóngnián de yǒuqù gùshì. | |
| * English: He told me an interesting story about his childhood. | |
| * Analysis: `段` is used for a narrative or story, treating it as a "segment" of experience. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 他们刚结束了一**段**很复杂的感情。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tāmen gāng jiéshùle yī **duàn** hěn fùzá de gǎnqíng. | |
| * English: They just ended a very complicated relationship. | |
| * Analysis: This shows `段` can be used for a life experience like a relationship, marking it as a distinct period. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这首歌曲的副歌那**段**特别好听。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gēqǔ de fùgē nà **duàn** tèbié hǎotīng. | |
| * English: The chorus part of this song is especially nice to listen to. | |
| * Analysis: `段` can refer to a segment of a piece of music. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 我们的项目目前处于关键**阶段**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen de xiàngmù mùqián chǔyú guānjiàn **jiēduàn**. | |
| * English: Our project is currently in a critical stage. | |
| * Analysis: Here `段` is part of the noun `阶段 (jiēduàn)`, meaning "stage" or "phase." | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 我只记得那场梦的一小**段**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐ jìde nà chǎng mèng de yī xiǎo **duàn**. | |
| * English: I only remember a small fragment of that dream. | |
| * Analysis: `段` can be modified by adjectives like `小` (small) to indicate the size of the segment. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 你看完这**段**视频后有什么想法？ | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ kàn wán zhè **duàn** shìpín hòu yǒu shénme xiǎngfǎ? | |
| * English: What are your thoughts after watching this video clip? | |
| * Analysis: `段` is the perfect measure word for a clip or segment of a longer video. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 他是我们公司里公认的围棋九**段**高手。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā shì wǒmen gōngsī lǐ gōngrèn de wéiqí jiǔ **duàn** gāoshǒu. | |
| * English: He is the recognized 9-dan Go master in our company. | |
| * Analysis: A great cultural example showing `段` used to denote a high level of skill in the game of Go. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **Mistake 1: Confusing `段 (duàn)` with `节 (jié)`.** | |
| * `节 (jié)` is used for more clearly demarcated, standardized units, like `一节课` (a class period), `一节车厢` (a train carriage), or `一节电池` (a battery). `段 (duàn)` is for segments of something continuous that are conceptually, rather than physically, divided. | |
| * **Incorrect:** ~~我今天上了三段课。~~ (I had three "segments" of class today.) | |
| * **Correct:** 我今天上了三**节**课。 (I had three class periods today.) | |
| * **Correct:** 我们休息了一**段**时间。 (We rested for a period of time.) | |
| * **Mistake 2: Using it for whole, countable items.** | |
| * `段` is for a *part* of something, not the whole thing. | |
| * **Incorrect:** ~~我读了一段书。~~ (This sounds like you read a "section of book," which is awkward.) | |
| * **Correct:** 我读了一**本**书。 (I read a book.) | |
| * **Correct:** 我读了书的第一**章**，第三**段**。 (I read the first chapter, third paragraph of the book.) | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[节]] (jié) - A measure word for discrete sections or periods (like a class period or train car). More formal and structured than `段`. | |
| * [[篇]] (piān) - A measure word specifically for complete articles, essays, or short written works. | |
| * [[章]] (zhāng) - A chapter of a book; a larger unit than a `段`. | |
| * [[段落]] (duànluò) - The formal, two-character noun for "paragraph." `一段` is often shorthand for `一个段落`. | |
| * [[阶段]] (jiēduàn) - A stage, phase, or period (e.g., in a project or in life). Uses `段` as a component. | |
| * [[片段]] (piànduàn) - A fragment, snippet, or clip, often of a film, memory, or story. Emphasizes incompleteness. | |
| * [[手段]] (shǒuduàn) - Means, method, or tactic. This word shows how `段` can be part of a term with a very different, often negative, connotation. | |