Definition
残 (cán) has two main verb senses: 'to damage/injure' (often leaving something incomplete or disabled) and 'to remain/survive' (what is left after destruction). For the 'damage' sense, 毁灭 (huǐ miè) means total annihilation, while 残 is more about causing harm or injury. For the 'remain' sense, 残留 (cán liú) is a near-synonym but more specific to traces or lingering effects.
verb
to damageto injureto destroyto remainto survive
Easily confused
- 贱jiànlook-alike(adjective) cheap, inexpensive (of goods)
- 惨cǎnsound-aliketragic, disastrous, miserable
- 线xiànlook-alikethread; string; wire; line
- 钱qiánlook-alikemoney
- 浅qiǎnlook-alikeshallow (of depth)
- 盏zhǎnlook-alike(classifier) for lamps, lanterns, and other light sources (also literary: small cup)
Examples
- 。Zhànzhēng cán hài le xǔduō wúgū de rén.The war harmed many innocent people.
- 。Zhège cūnzi hái cán cún zhe gǔlǎo de xísú.This village still preserves ancient customs.
- 残。Nà cì shìgù ràng tā cán le yì tiáo tuǐ.That accident caused him to lose a leg.
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