Definition
斩 (zhǎn) means 'to behead' or 'to chop off' with a single, decisive cut of a blade — it's the specific word for decapitation as punishment and for cutting through something like a rope or bone. 砍 (kǎn) is the general word for 'to chop' (wood, costs, content) and is less precise; 劈 (pī) means 'to split' along a grain or by force (like lightning). 杀 (shā) is 'to kill' by any method, not just cutting.
verb
to behead (as capital punishment)to chop (off)
Easily confused
- 听tīnglook-aliketo listen; to hear
- 站zhànsound-alikestation (bus, train, etc.)
- 断duànlook-aliketo break, to snap (physically)
- 站zhànsound-alike(verb) to stand
- 折zhélook-aliketo break, to fracture
- 占zhànsound-aliketo occupy, to take up (space, time, or a position)
- 近jìnlook-alikenear; close (in distance or time)
- 粘zhānsound-aliketo stick, to glue, to adhere
- 沾zhānsound-aliketo touch (and get something on), to come into contact with
- 盏zhǎnsound-alike(classifier) for lamps, lanterns, and other light sources (also literary: small cup)
Examples
- 。Gǔdài zhǎn shǒu shì yì zhǒng chángjiàn de xíngfá.In ancient times, beheading was a common punishment.
- 。Tā ná qǐ dāo zhǎn duàn le shéng zi.He picked up a knife and chopped the rope.
- 。Chúshī yòng càidāo zhǎn duàn le gǔtou.The chef used a cleaver to chop through the bone.
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