断
severance · decline · refuse · apologize · warn · dismiss · prohibit · decision · judgement · cutting
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of axe and continue. Cutting continuation with axe.
Symbolism
Judgment, refuse, interruption. Represents cutting.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Era of war
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一刀両断
いっとうりょうだん
cutting in two with a single stroke; taking decisive action; dealing with decisively; cutting in two with a single stroke
言語道断
ごんごどうだん
outrageous; preposterous; scandalous; outrageous
熟慮断行
じゅくりょだんこう
being deliberate in council, and decisive in action; being deliberate in council, and decisive in action
油断大敵
ゆだんたいてき
don't let your guard down; carelessness is the great enemy; danger comes soonest when it is despised; don't let your guard down
優柔不断
ゆうじゅうふだん
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally; indecisive
独断専行
どくだんせんこう
acting arbitrarily on one's own authority; acting arbitrarily without consultation; acting arbitrarily on one's own authority
殺生禁断
せっしょうきんだん
prohibition against hunting and fishing; prohibition against hunting and fishing
断崖絶壁
だんがいぜっぺき
precipitous cliff; sheer precipice; critical situation; precipitous cliff
迅速果断
じんそくかだん
quick and decisive; fast and daring; quick and decisive
即断即決
そくだんそっけつ
making a swift decision; making immediate decisions and taking quick actions; making a swift decision
剛毅果断
ごうきかだん
dauntless and decisive; with fortitude and resolution; dauntless and decisive
即決即断
そっけつそくだん
prompt decision and prompt execution; make swift decisions and take quick actions; prompt decision and prompt execution
断章取義
だんしょうしゅぎ
interpreting (and using) a passage without regard to its context; interpreting (and using) a passage without regard to its context
常住不断
じょうじゅうふだん
ceaseless; constant; uninterrupted; ceaseless
Proverbs & Idioms
断腸の思い
だんちょうのおもい
Gut-wrenching feeling
Sorrow so deep it feels like one's intestines are being torn apart
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 断 mean in Japanese?
断 means severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn, dismiss, prohibit, decision, judgement, cutting.
How do you read 断?
On'yomi: ダン (DAN). Kun'yomi: た.つ、ことわ.る、さだ.める (tatsu, kotowaru, sadameru).
How many strokes does 断 have?
断 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 斤 (axe).
Is 断 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 断 (severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn, dismiss, prohibit, decision, judgement, cutting) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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