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
Words written with 断
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
言語道断
ごんごどうだん
outrageous; preposterous; scandalous
熟慮断行
じゅくりょだんこう
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
優柔不断
ゆうじゅうふだん
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally
独断専行
どくだんせんこう
acting arbitrarily on one's own authority; acting arbitrarily without consultation
殺生禁断
せっしょうきんだん
prohibition against hunting and fishing
断崖絶壁
だんがいぜっぺき
precipitous cliff; sheer precipice; critical situation
迅速果断
じんそくかだん
quick and decisive; fast and daring
即断即決
そくだんそっけつ
making a swift decision; making immediate decisions and taking quick actions
剛毅果断
ごうきかだん
dauntless and decisive; with fortitude and resolution
即決即断
そっけつそくだん
prompt decision and prompt execution; make swift decisions and take quick actions
断章取義
だんしょうしゅぎ
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
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
Anime & Manga
鴨乃橋ロンの禁断推理
Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions
A well-known work with 断 in its Japanese title.
聖母の断罪
Maria no Danzai
A well-known work with 断 in its Japanese title.
悪役令嬢の中の人〜断罪された転生者のため嘘つきヒロインに復讐いたします〜
Within The Villainess
A well-known work with 断 in its Japanese title.
阿彌殻断層の怪
The Enigma of Amigara Fault
A well-known work with 断 in its Japanese title.
魔の断片
Fragments of Horror
A well-known work with 断 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
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?
断 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn, dismiss, prohibit, decision, judgement, cutting. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:decline · refuse · apologize · warn · decision · judgement