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March 24, 2026
砍kǎn(kan3)
The character 砍 (kǎn) means to chop or cut down, often used in the context of cutting wood or hacking at something with a tool. It conveys a sense of forceful action, and can also imply throwing something at someone. In everyday conversations, it might refer to actions like chopping vegetables or cutting down trees.
Strokes9Radical石Frequency#2204DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Chopping wood is a common activity in rural China, often associated with traditional lifestyles and the preparation for winter. The practice also appears in Chinese idioms and proverbs, emphasizing hard work and practicality.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large tree with a big axe (the character 砍 resembles an axe) striking down to chop it down. The 'kǎn' sound can be remembered by thinking of the sound an axe makes when it hits the wood—'kǎn!'
Meanings of 砍
kǎn(kan3)
1to chop
2to cut down
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 砍
砍Simplified
9Strokes
石Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2204Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 砍
Podcast: 砍
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AI Study Notes for 砍
Quick Contrast
劈 (pī) vs 砍 (kǎn): Choose 砍 when emphasizing a forceful cutting action, while 劈 suggests a cleaving or splitting motion.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large tree with a big axe (the character 砍 resembles an axe) striking down to chop it down. The 'kǎn' sound can be remembered by thinking of the sound an axe makes when it hits the wood—'kǎn!'
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 砍 with other similar verbs; for example, using it when you mean to slice instead of chop could lead to misunderstandings. This word is generally informal, but can be used in various contexts. Common collocations include 砍树 (kǎn shù, chop down trees) and 砍价 (kǎn jià, bargain).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 砍 connects with other verbs that describe physical actions (e.g., 打 dǎ, to hit; 切 qiē, to slice). Students should focus on its usage in both literal and figurative contexts, such as negotiating prices.
Cultural Note
Chopping wood is a common activity in rural China, often associated with traditional lifestyles and the preparation for winter. The practice also appears in Chinese idioms and proverbs, emphasizing hard work and practicality.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 砍 with 切 (qiē), which means to slice. For example, saying '我想砍一个苹果' (wǒ xiǎng kǎn yī gè píngguǒ) is incorrect; it should be '我想切一个苹果' (wǒ xiǎng qiē yī gè píngguǒ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 砍
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Grammar Patterns of 砍
砍 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
This pattern emphasizes the action or manner in which something is done.
❝
他是用刀砍的。
Tā shì yòng dāo kǎn de.
He chopped it with a knife.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build the Sentence
He chopped it with a knife.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common Confusions with 砍
砍vs砰
pēng
Similar sound but unrelated meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to chop"?
or
Usage Notes for 砍
Misusing with non-physical subjectsCommon Error
砍 is typically used for physical actions involving cutting or chopping. Avoid using it metaphorically for non-physical subjects.
1
他砍掉了很多树。
He chopped down many trees.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他____掉了很多树。
He chopped down many trees.
Example Sentences for 砍 (10)
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1
门德斯先生正领导一场运动，以拯救遭到乱砍滥伐的巴西热带雨林。
mén dé sī xiān shēng zhèng lǐng dǎo yī cháng yùn dòng， ， yǐ zhěng jiù zāo dào luàn kǎn làn fá de bā xī rè dài yǔ。
Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
Cut them off cleanly through the stem just below the node.
9
他一斧子就砍掉了那根树枝.
tā yī fǔ zǐ jiù kǎn diào le nà gēn shù zhī.
He struck off the branch with a single chop of the ax.
10
他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路.
tā kǎn le yī gēn jié shí de zhī tiáo yòng lái zhǔ zháo zǒu lù.
He cut a stout stick to help him walk.
Cultural Notes for 砍
🏮Cultural insight
Chopping wood is a common activity in rural China, often associated with traditional lifestyles and the preparation for winter. The practice also appears in Chinese idioms and proverbs, emphasizing hard work and practicality.
Word Family of 砍
Words Containing This Character8
砍kǎnto chop
砍刀machete
砍伐kǎnfáto hew
砍价to bargain砍價
砍断to chop off砍斷
砍杀to attack with a bladed weapon砍殺
砍头to decapitate砍頭
砍大山to chew the fat
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 砍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 砍
Common phrases include '砍价' (kǎn jià), which means 'to bargain' or 'to negotiate a price.' Another example is '砍伐' (kǎn fá), meaning 'to fell' or 'to cut down trees.' These phrases highlight the versatility of 砍 in everyday language.
砍 is classified at HSK level 7, indicating it is a more advanced character typically learned by learners who have a solid understanding of Chinese. Mastering such characters helps in improving fluency and comprehension in complex conversations.
砍 (kǎn) means 'to chop' or 'to cut down.' It can refer to cutting trees or chopping food items. Additionally, it can also imply throwing something at someone in a forceful manner.
You can use 砍 to describe actions like chopping wood or cutting vegetables. For example, '我在砍树' (Wǒ zài kǎn shù) means 'I am chopping down a tree.' It can also be used metaphorically in contexts where you're 'cutting' something down in a discussion.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically, for example in terms like 砍价 (kǎn jià), which means to bargain.
While it is mostly used for tangible actions like chopping, it can also describe cutting ties or relationships in a figurative context.
