斩

zhǎn

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Verb Uncommon

Definitions

1. to behead (as form of capital punishment)
2. to chop

Character focus

Stroke order

8 strokes

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Word relationships

Register variants

1 item

• 斩首 zhǎn shǒu 斩首 zhǎn shǒu to behead formal term for beheading: to behead

Related words

2 items

• 剁 duò 剁 duò to chop up (meat etc) chop with a cleaver: to chop up (meat etc)
• 切 qiē 切 qiē to cut slice or cut, not necessarily forceful: to cut

Synonyms

1 item

• 砍 kǎn 砍 kǎn to chop chop or cut with a tool: to chop

Usage notes

Common mistakes

斩 implies a powerful, decisive cut, often associated with capital punishment; avoid using it for gentle slicing.

Example Sentences

1 shown

厨师把鱼头 斩 了下来。

The chef chopped off the fish head.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 斩

• 斩草除根 斩草除根 zhǎn cǎo chú gēn: to cut weeds and eliminate the roots (idiom); to destroy root and branch
• 斩钉截铁 斩钉截铁 zhǎn dīng jié tiě: lit. to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)
• 先斩后奏 先斩后奏 xiān zhǎn hòu zòu: first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later
• 两国相争，不斩来使 两国相争，不斩来使 liǎng guó xiāng zhēng , bù zhǎn lái shǐ: when two kingdoms are at war, they don't execute envoys (idiom)
• 快刀斩乱麻 快刀斩乱麻 kuài dāo zhǎn luàn má: lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
• 披荆斩棘 披荆斩棘 pī jīng zhǎn jí: lit. to cut one's way through thistles and thorns (idiom)
• 斩断 斩断 zhǎn duàn: to cut off
• 斩杀 斩杀 zhǎn shā: to behead
• 斩眼 斩眼 zhǎn yǎn: to blink (literary)
• 斩而不奏 斩而不奏 zhǎn ér bù zòu: to do sth and not report the fact (idiom)
• 斩首 斩首 zhǎn shǒu: to behead
• 杀虎斩蛟 杀虎斩蛟 shā hǔ zhǎn jiāo: lit. to kill the tiger and behead the scaly dragon
• 满门抄斩 满门抄斩 mǎn mén chāo zhǎn: to execute the whole family and confiscate their property
• 白斩鸡 白斩鸡 bái zhǎn jī: Cantonese poached chicken, known as \white cut chicken\",2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128381,90140,white banner and yellow battle-ax (idiom); refers to military expedition,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128382,90141,Bai (ethnic group),2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128383,90142,white flag,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128384,90143,daytime,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128385,90143,sun,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128386,90143,time,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128387,90144,to daydream,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128388,90144,to indulge in wishful thinking,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128389,90145,daydream,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128390,90145,reverie,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128391,90146,daytime,2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128392,90147,Pai Hsiao-yen (daughter of Pai Ping-ping),2025-02-14 13:18:22,2025-02-14 13:18:22 128393,90148,Bainang county
• 腰斩 腰斩 yāo zhǎn: to chop sb in half at the waist (capital punishment)
• 过五关斩六将 过五关斩六将 guò wǔ guān zhǎn liù jiàng: lit. to cross five passes and slay six generals (idiom)