断
duàn
to break
to snap; to cut off; to give up or abstain from sth; to judge; (usu. used in the negative) absolutely; definitely; decidedly
Rice stalks (米) + axe (斤) = to cut off, to sever
An axe (斤) chopping through bundled rice stalks (米) captures the moment of cutting clean through something. From this vivid severing image, the character extends to judging, deciding, or cutting off a habit — any act of making a clean break.
这根绳子太细，很容易就断了。
zhè gēn shéng zi tài xì, hěn róng yì jiù duàn le。
This rope is too thin and snaps very easily.
他断定这件事不是她做的。
tā duàn dìng zhè jiàn shì bú shì tā zuò de。
He judged that this matter was not done by her.
Words with 断
断肠
duàn cháng
heartbroken
评断
píng duàn
to judge
抢断
qiǎng duàn
(basketball) to steal (the ball)
断开
duàn kāi
to break
断定
duàn dìng
to conclude
武断
wǔ duàn
arbitrary
判断
pàn duàn
to judge
连续不断
lián xù bù duàn
continuous
逸尘断鞅
yì chén duàn yāng
lit. kicking up the dust and breaking the harness
遮断
zhē duàn
to cut off
长流水，不断线
cháng liú shuǐ , bù duàn xiàn
continuous and patient effort (idiom)
间断
jiàn duàn
disconnected