duàn

break, sever

Depicts cutting off threads () with an axe ()

Components
丝 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

silk, threads

丝 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

silk, threads

斤 iconic component

  Iconic component

jīn

  

axe

Evolution

斷 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
斷 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
斷 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
斷 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

duàn

sever, cut off; interrupt; to break; to snap; to cut off; to give up or abstain from sth; to judge; (usu. used in the negative) absolutely; definitely; decidedly

Most common words with 斷
Freq.
Word
Meaning

不断

unceasing

to break

判断

to judge

诊断

diagnosis

打断

to interrupt