斩 zhǎn — behead; cut · English

斩

zhǎn

behead; cut

At a glance · 斩

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

繁体「斬」从車从斤，象以斧（斤）断车，本义为砍断、斩首。小篆作「斬」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为以斧砍断、斩决。

Structure

会意字，从車从斤，象斧断车辕，表斩决。

At a glance

Pinyinzhǎn

Radical斤

Strokes8

UnicodeU+65A9

Character type会意

Theme军事

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English behead; cut To behead or cut off.

Français décapiter; couper Décapiter ou couper.

Español decapitar; cortar Decapitar o cortar.

العربية يقطع رأسه؛ يقطع يقطع الرأس أو يبتر.

Русский обезглавить; рубить Обезглавить или отрубить.

Common words

斩zhǎnbehead
斩首zhǎn shǒubehead

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