How to write 断 (duàn) — Stroke Order, Radical & Practice
Pronunciation & meaning
Pronounced .
- to sever
- to cut off
- to interrupt
Stroke Order & Practice
Click Animate to see the correct stroke order, then Practice to trace it yourself.
Decomposition
断 breaks down into 2 components arranged as Left + Right. Recognizing the components makes the character easier to remember and write.
Radical
The radical of 断 is 斤 — meaning a catty (about 500 grams). Radicals are the indexing components used in Chinese dictionaries; they often hint at a character's broad meaning category.
How the character is built
断 is an ideographic compound — its meaning is suggested by the combination of its parts rather than by sound. Using an axe 斤 to harvest grain 米.
HSK 4 Words Containing 断
Seen in the Real Exams / 真题例句
断 appears in 13 questions across the 19 mock & official HSK 4 exams on this site. Real exam sentences using it:
FAQ
What does 断 mean in Chinese?
断 (duàn) means to sever, to cut off, to interrupt. It is one of the 150 characters required for the HSK 4 writing section.
How many strokes does 断 have?
断 is written in 11 strokes. Use the practice tool above to see the correct stroke order and trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 断?
The radical of 断 is 斤 (a catty (about 500 grams)).
What is the pinyin for 断?
断 is pronounced duàn.
What HSK 4 words use 断?
In our HSK 4 vocabulary, 断 appears in 2 words, including 不断 (búduàn), 判断 (pànduàn). See the full list above.