段

• Pinyin: duàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 段 = 殳 (to strike) + cliff/step components — cutting into sections

Meaning

Section; segment. A measure word for sections of road, text, time, or experiences.

As a measure word, 段 counts sections of roads (一段路), paragraphs (一段话), periods of time (一段时间), and stretches of experience (一段经历). Also used as a noun meaning 'section' or 'level.'

Examples

1. 这段路很不好走。 This stretch of road is very hard to walk on.
2. 老师让我们读一段课文。 The teacher asked us to read a passage from the textbook.
3. 他在北京住了一段时间。 He lived in Beijing for a period of time.

Usage Guide

Context: descriptions, reading, time expressions

Tone: factual

Do Say

• 请读这一段话。(Please read this paragraph.)
• 我等了好长一段时间。(I waited for quite a long time.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'段'来量单个物品 — 段 measures continuous sections or stretches, not individual discrete items. Use 个 or other measure words for single objects.

Origin & History

Originally depicted a hand striking a rock on a cliff — conveying the idea of cutting or breaking into sections.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal