HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #1253, Medium
短
duǎn
brief
HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #1253, Medium
短
duǎn
to lack
HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #1253, Medium
短
duǎn
weak point
HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #1253, Medium
短
duǎn
fault
HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #1253, Medium
短
duǎn
brief, short; deficient, lacking
HSK 3, a, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #1253, Medium
duǎn(duan3) T3
1short
2brief
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March 24, 2026
短duǎn(duan3)
The character 短 (duǎn) means 'short' or 'brief' and can describe physical length, time duration, or even abstract concepts such as a brief conversation. It is often used to indicate a deficiency or weakness in something, such as a skill or quality.
Strokes12Radical矢Frequency#1253DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often viewed as a precious resource, making the idea of something being 'short' (短) not only a physical description but also a cultural commentary on efficiency and value.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'short' pencil that has a small, stubby form, symbolizing the character 短. The radical '石' (stone) suggests something solid but small, and '短' sounds like 'duǎn,' which can remind you of 'dwindle' or 'diminish,' reinforcing the idea of something being less than expected.
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AI Study Notes for 短
Quick Contrast
短 (duǎn) vs 矮 (ǎi) — use 短 for length or duration, while 矮 specifically refers to height.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'short' pencil that has a small, stubby form, symbolizing the character 短. The radical '石' (stone) suggests something solid but small, and '短' sounds like 'duǎn,' which can remind you of 'dwindle' or 'diminish,' reinforcing the idea of something being less than expected.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing '短' as it is pronounced with a falling tone (duǎn). It is commonly used in expressions like '时间短' (short time) or '短裤' (shorts), and avoid using it in overly formal contexts where '简短' (brief) may be more appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 3 vocabulary, 短 connects to other words related to measurements and descriptions, such as 长 (long) and 高 (high). Focus on using it in comparative contexts and practice forming sentences that contrast it with its antonyms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often viewed as a precious resource, making the idea of something being 'short' (短) not only a physical description but also a cultural commentary on efficiency and value.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 短 with 长 (long) and mistakenly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '这条裙子太长了' instead of '这条裙子太短了' when trying to indicate that the skirt is too short.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 短
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Grammar Patterns of 短
短 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
When the days shorten in winter some people suffer depression.
Cultural Notes for 短
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'short' can also refer to brevity in communication. Being concise is valued, as it shows respect for others' time.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often viewed as a precious resource, making the idea of something being 'short' (短) not only a physical description but also a cultural commentary on efficiency and value.
Word Family of 短
Words Containing This Character20
短duǎnshort
短期duǎnqīshort term
短暂duǎnzànbrief短暫
短裤duǎnkùshorts短褲
短线short term短線
缩短suōduǎnto curtail縮短
简短jiǎnduǎnbriefly簡短
短缺duǎnquēshortage
长话短说to make a long story short (idiom)長話短說
短路short circuit
短片duǎnpiànshort film
长短chángduǎnlength長短
短语phrase短語
三长两短unexpected misfortune三長兩短
短命to die young
短篇小说short story短篇小說
短讯SMS短訊
短程short range
短跑sprint (race)
短处duǎnchùdefect短處
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 短 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 短
Some common phrases with 短 include '短时间' (duǎn shíjiān), which means 'short time,' and '短缺' (duǎnquē), meaning 'to lack' or 'shortage.' These phrases can help you understand how to incorporate 短 into various contexts in conversation.
Yes, 短 is used in idioms such as '短期内' (duǎnqī nèi), which translates to 'in the short term.' Understanding idioms can enrich your language skills and comprehension of native speakers, as they often reflect cultural nuances.
短 (duǎn) means 'short' or 'brief' in Chinese. It can refer to physical length, duration of time, or even the brevity of a statement. Additionally, it can imply a weakness or fault in a certain context.
You can use 短 to describe something that is not long in length or duration. For example, you can say '这个裙子太短了' (zhège qúnzi tài duǎn le), which means 'This dress is too short.' It can also be used to describe a lack of something, like '他的回答很短' (tā de huídá hěn duǎn), meaning 'His answer was very brief.'
You can say '这条裙子太短了' (This skirt is too short).
Yes, 短 can be used in both contexts, but for formal writing, consider using synonyms like 简短.
Common collocations include 短时间 (short time) and 短信 (text message).
