暂

• Pinyin: zàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 日 = time/day (semantic); 斩 = 斤 + 车 (to cut/stop short)

Meaning

Temporarily; for the time being; briefly. An adverb indicating that something is a short-term or provisional state.

Used to modify verbs indicating a temporary condition: 暂停 (to pause/suspend), 暂缓 (to temporarily postpone), 暂时 (temporarily), 暂且 (for now/for the time being). Very common in formal announcements, official notices, and policy documents.

Examples

1. 由于系统升级维护，该服务将于今晚暂停四小时，请用户知悉。 Due to a system upgrade and maintenance, this service will be suspended for four hours tonight. Please be advised.
2. 这项法规暂未正式施行，相关配套细则仍在研究论证阶段。 This regulation has not yet officially taken effect, and the supporting detailed rules are still under study and review.
3. 鉴于国际局势尚不明朗，双方决定暂缓签署正式合作协议。 Given the uncertain international situation, both sides decided to postpone signing a formal cooperation agreement for the time being.

Usage Guide

Context: official notices, policy, temporary states

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 鉴于配套资金尚未落实到位，该基础设施项目将暂时搁置，条件成熟后再行启动。(Given that the supporting funds have not yet been put in place, the infrastructure project will be temporarily shelved and restarted when conditions are ready.)
• 受强对流天气影响，机场所有航班暂时无法起降，请旅客耐心等候进一步通知。(Due to severe convective weather, all flights at the airport are temporarily unable to take off or land — passengers are asked to wait patiently for further notice.)

Don't Say

• 暂我不去 — 暂 must modify a verb or predicate directly; say 暂时不去 or 我暂且不打算去, not standalone 暂 before a subject

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 日 (sun/time) + 斩 (to cut off) — original sense: a short, abruptly bounded period of time

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal