Usage note
断表示断开、停止或判断。
duàn biǎo shì duàn kāi 、 tíng zhǐ huò pàn duàn。
断 means to break, stop, or judge.
Context note
断常用于物品、声音和决定。
duàn cháng yòng yú wù pǐn 、 shēng yīn hé jué dìng。
It is often used with objects, sound, and decisions.
5 examples
绳子断了。
shéng zi duàn le。
The rope broke.
他决定断开联系。
tā jué dìng duàn kāi lián xì。
He decided to cut off contact.
声音突然断了。
shēng yīn tū rán duàn le。
The sound suddenly stopped.
请别把电断了。
qǐng bié bǎ diàn duàn le。
Please do not cut the power.
她断定他会来。
tā duàn dìng tā huì lái。
She judged that he would come.
5 mini stories
风把树枝吹断了。
fēng bǎ shù zhī chuī duàn le。
The wind broke the branch.
电话突然断了。
diàn huà tū rán duàn le。
The phone suddenly cut off.
他把坏习惯断掉了。
tā bǎ huài xí guàn duàn diào le。
He broke his bad habit.
老师让大家不断练习。
lǎo shī ràng dà jiā bú duàn liàn xí。
The teacher asked everyone to keep practicing.
这根绳子很容易断。
zhè gēn shéng zi hěn róng yì duàn。
This rope breaks easily.
Mini dialogue
绳子断了
A
小心，绳子快断了！
Xiǎoxīn, shéngzi kuài duàn le!
Careful, the rope is about to break!
B
真的断了，东西都掉下来了。
Zhēn de duàn le, dōngxi dōu diào xiàlái le.
It really broke, everything fell down.
网络断了
A
我的网络断了，连不上课。
Wǒ de wǎngluò duàn le, lián bù shàng kè.
My internet is cut off, I can't connect to class.
B
别急，可能是信号断了，等一下。
Bié jí, kěnéng shì xìnhào duàn le, děng yīxià.
Don't worry, maybe the signal was cut off, wait a moment.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
连接
liánjiē
connect
断 means to break or cut off; 连接 means to connect or join.
similar
折断
zhéduàn
snap; break off
折断 specifically means to break by snapping, like a stick.
related
中断
zhōngduàn
interrupt; discontinue
中断 means to interrupt or suspend, often used for activities or connections.