Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

behead; chop

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “zhan” becomes a different word in each tone. 斩 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 斩钉截铁zhǎn dīng jié tiělit. to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom); fig. resolute and decisive; unhesitating; categorical
  • 斩草除根zhǎn cǎo chú gēnto cut weeds and eliminate the roots (idiom); to destroy root and branch; to eliminate completely
  • 斩眼zhǎn yǎnto blink (literary)
  • 斩断zhǎn duànto cut off; to chop sth in half
  • 斩首zhǎn shǒuto behead; to decapitate

Example Sentence

“快刀斩乱麻”比喻办事果断利落。“Kuài dāo zhǎn luàn má” bǐ yù bàn shì guǒ duàn lì luo.The phrase cutting tangled hemp with a sharp knife means handling matters decisively.

“Kuàirapiddāo(slang) (loanword) dollarzhǎnto chop乱麻luàn má”lit. tangled skein比喻bǐ yùto compare办事bàn shìto handle (affairs)果断guǒ duànfirm利落lì luoagile