====== duàn: 断 - To Break, To Cut Off, To Sever ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 断, duan, duàn, Chinese character break, cut off Chinese, sever, stop, interrupt, quit, Chinese grammar, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 4, 断了, 断电, 断绝关系, 判断, learn Chinese
  * **Summary:** Learn the versatile Chinese character **断 (duàn)**, a fundamental verb for expressing "to break," "to cut," or "to sever." This page explores how **断** is used for everything from a physical break, like a snapped rope or a power outage (断电), to metaphorical separations, such as cutting off contact with someone or quitting a bad habit. Discover its cultural significance in decision-making (判断) and its practical, everyday use in modern spoken Chinese.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** duàn
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Adverb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To break, cut off, sever, or stop.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **断 (duàn)** describes a separation or interruption in something that was previously whole or continuous. Picture a string snapping, a power line being cut, or a phone call dropping. It signifies a clear, often decisive, end to a connection or flow. This concept applies to both physical objects (a broken bone) and abstract ideas (breaking a habit, severing a relationship).
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * The character **断** is a powerful pictograph that shows an action. It's composed of two parts:
  * **斤 (jīn):** This radical on the right represents an "axe" or a similar cutting tool. It provides the meaning of force and the action of cutting.
  * **The left side (⿱⿰幺幺丨):** This part originally depicted threads of silk (幺 resembles a silk thread or cocoon).
  * Together, they create a vivid image: **using an axe (斤) to chop through threads**. This perfectly illustrates the core meaning of severing, cutting something decisively in two.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * In Chinese culture, **断 (duàn)** carries a strong sense of finality and decisiveness. It's not just a passive break; it's often an active "cutting off." This is reflected in words related to judgment and decision-making.
  * **Decisiveness:** Words like **判断 (pànduàn)** (to judge) and **决断 (juéduàn)** (to make a firm decision) use **断** to imply "cutting" through ambiguity to arrive at a clear conclusion. A good leader is expected to have **决断力 (juéduànlì)**, or decisiveness.
  * **Severing Ties:** The act of **断绝关系 (duànjué guānxì)**, or severing a relationship, is culturally a very serious and profound action, especially within a family. In a collectivistic culture that highly values family cohesion and social harmony, to **断** a connection is a grave step, often seen as a last resort. This is more severe than the casual Western concept of "ghosting," which is passive avoidance. **断绝关系** is an active, often declared, separation.
  * **Modern Minimalism:** The Japanese concept of **断舍离 (duàn shě lí)** has become very popular in China. It translates to "cut off, discard, separate" and embodies the principles of minimalism—cutting ties with materialism and unnecessary clutter to improve one's life.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Physical Breaks:** Used for long, thin objects that snap in two.
    * e.g., A rope, a stick, a bone, a pencil.
  * **Interruption of Utilities:** This is an extremely common, everyday usage.
    * **断电 (duàndiàn):** Power outage
    * **断网 (duànwǎng):** Internet outage
    * **断水 (duànshuǐ):** Water supply cut off
  * **Ending Relationships & Contact:**
    * **断了联系 (duànle liánxì):** To lose contact, to cut off contact.
    * **断绝关系 (duànjué guānxì):** A more formal and serious way to say "sever ties."
  * **Quitting a Habit:** Implies a firm, decisive stop.
    * e.g., "I need to quit this addiction" - a common phrasing is to **断** it.
  * **Abstract Concepts:**
    * **打断 (dǎduàn):** To interrupt someone speaking.
    * **判断 (pànduàn):** To judge or determine.
    * **诊断 (zhěnduàn):** To diagnose (a medical judgment).
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 太用力了，绳子**断**了。
    * Pinyin: Tài yònglì le, shéngzi **duàn** le.
    * English: You used too much force, the rope broke.
    * Analysis: A simple, literal example of a physical break. **断了 (duàn le)** indicates the completed action of breaking.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 昨天晚上我们小区突然**断**电了。
    * Pinyin: Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒmen xiǎoqū tūrán **duàn**diàn le.
    * English: Our neighborhood suddenly had a power outage last night.
    * Analysis: **断电 (duàndiàn)** is a set phrase combining "break" and "electricity." This is a very common and practical use of the character.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 他们分手以后，就彻底**断**了联系。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen fēnshǒu yǐhòu, jiù chèdǐ **duàn** le liánxì.
    * English: After they broke up, they completely cut off contact.
    * Analysis: Here, **断** is used metaphorically to describe the severing of communication and a relationship.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他踢足球的时候不小心把腿摔**断**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā tī zúqiú de shíhou bù xiǎoxīn bǎ tuǐ shuāi **duàn** le.
    * English: He accidentally broke his leg while playing soccer.
    * Analysis: A common way to talk about breaking a bone. The structure is `把 (bǎ) + [object] + [verb] + 断了`.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 请不要打**断**我说话，让我先把话说完。
    * Pinyin: Qǐng búyào dǎ**duàn** wǒ shuōhuà, ràng wǒ xiān bǎ huà shuō wán.
    * English: Please don't interrupt me, let me finish what I'm saying first.
    * Analysis: **打断 (dǎduàn)** is a compound verb meaning "to interrupt." The **打 (dǎ)** adds a sense of action or force to the interruption.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 根据我的**判**断，这个计划是行不通的。
    * Pinyin: Gēnjù wǒ de **pàn**duàn, zhège jìhuà shì xíngbutōng de.
    * English: Based on my judgment, this plan is not feasible.
    * Analysis: Shows the abstract use of **断** in the noun **判断 (pànduàn)**, meaning "judgment."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 医生**诊**断他得了肺炎。
    * Pinyin: Yīshēng **zhěn**duàn tā déle fèiyán.
    * English: The doctor diagnosed him with pneumonia.
    * Analysis: **诊断 (zhěnduàn)** is the specific term for a medical diagnosis, another example of an abstract, decisive conclusion.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 为了健康，他下定决心把烟**断**了。
    * Pinyin: Wèile jiànkāng, tā xiàdìng juéxīn bǎ yān **duàn** le.
    * English: For the sake of his health, he made up his mind to quit smoking.
    * Analysis: A great example of using **断** to mean "quit" a habit. It implies a clean, complete break.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 因为严重的矛盾，他和他父亲**断**绝了父子关系。
    * Pinyin: Yīnwèi yánzhòng de máodùn, tā hé tā fùqīn **duàn**jué le fùzǐ guānxì.
    * English: Due to a serious conflict, he severed the father-son relationship with his father.
    * Analysis: **断绝 (duànjué)** is a very strong, formal term used for completely cutting off ties, often in serious or legal contexts.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他的思路突然**断**了，不知道接下来该说什么。
    * Pinyin: Tā de sīlù tūrán **duàn** le, bù zhīdào jiēxiàlái gāi shuō shénme.
    * English: His train of thought suddenly broke, and he didn't know what to say next.
    * Analysis: A perfect metaphorical use. "Train of thought" (**思路**) is treated like a continuous line that can be "broken."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`断 (duàn)` vs. `破 (pò)`:** This is a crucial distinction for beginners.
    * **断 (duàn)** is for long, thin things that break into two or more pieces (e.g., a rope, a stick, a bone, a connection). Think "snap."
    * **破 (pò)** is for surfaces that get a hole, crack, or shatter (e.g., a bowl, a window, skin, clothes). Think "shatter" or "tear."
    * **Correct:** 绳子**断**了。(The rope snapped.) | 碗**破**了。(The bowl is broken/shattered.)
    * **Incorrect:** ~~绳子破了。~~ | ~~碗断了。~~
  * **Not a Universal "Break":** You cannot use **断** for every situation where "break" is used in English.
    * For "break a promise," you use **违背承诺 (wéibèi chéngnuò)**.
    * For "take a break," you use **休息一下 (xiūxi yíxià)**.
    * For "break a record," you use **打破纪录 (dǎpò jìlù)**.
    * Remember, **断** is specifically about severing a continuity.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[打断]] (dǎduàn) - To interrupt; a verb specifically for cutting someone off while they are speaking or doing something.
  * [[折断]] (zhéduàn) - To snap (by bending); more specific than **断**, often used for rigid items like sticks or pencils that are broken by force.
  * [[判断]] (pànduàn) - To judge, determine; an abstract use of **断** to signify making a clear decision.
  * [[诊断]] (zhěnduàn) - To diagnose; the medical term for making a judgment about an illness.
  * [[断绝]] (duànjué) - To sever, to cut off (completely); a more formal and stronger synonym for breaking ties or relationships.
  * [[间断]] (jiànduàn) - To be intermittent, disconnected; describes something that stops and starts, focusing on the periodic nature of the break.
  * [[破]] (pò) - To be broken, to shatter; a related but distinct concept for breaking surfaces or fragile objects, not snapping long ones.
  * [[断舍离]] (duàn shě lí) - A popular modern concept of minimalism, meaning "to cut off, to discard, to separate."