severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn, dismiss, prohibit, decision, judgement, cutting
断 centers on cutting something off decisively: physically severing, refusing or declining, making a firm judgment, or prohibiting. The common thread is a clear, often abrupt, break or decision.
断 is the modern simplified form of 斷. The older form combines 㡭 (cut silk threads) with 斤 (axe), expressing the idea of cutting or severing. The modern left side 米 is a simplification of the original thread-cutting component.
Imagine an axe (斤) cutting through a bundle of rice stalks (米) to sever them cleanly. That decisive cut captures the core idea of cutting off, refusing, or making a firm decision.
For ダン, picture a judge banging a gavel to announce a final decision: the sound 'dan!' cues ダン, and the decisive judgment fits the kanji's meaning.
judgment; judgement; decision; conclusion; adjudication
diagnosis; medical examination
to refuse; to reject; to dismiss; to turn down; to decline
decision; determination
absence of permission; lack of permission
cutting; severance; section; amputation; disconnection
interruption; suspension; break
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
assertion; declaration; affirmation
crossing (a road, river, etc.); cutting through (e.g. of a river through a town); cutting across; intersecting (e.g. a railway track)
abandoning (hope, plans); giving up
decision; judgment; resolution
isolation; cut off; blockade; quarantine; interception; deprivation
to sever; to cut off
firmly; flatly; resolutely; decisively; absolutely; definitely
fragment; scrap; piece; shred
notice; notification; warning
section; cross section; profile
fault; dislocation
conclusion; decision; judgement; declaration
one's own judgement (judgment); decision made without consulting others; arbitrary decision
firm; determined; resolute; conclusive
far and away the best; the very best; cream of the crop; crème de la crème; decisive lead; commanding lead
extinction (e.g. of a family); dying out; discontinuation
fasting; fast
insulation
absolutely; positively; decidedly
running through (north-south); cutting across; travelling across
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally; vacillating
intermittence; being intermittent; occurring intermittently
horizontal banner
constant; persistent; unremitting; ceaseless
suspension of water supply; water outage
cutting to pieces; tearing to pieces
decisive action; carrying out; resolute enforcement; execution
prediction; prejudgment; presupposition; foregone conclusion
health checkup; (general) medical examination; physical examination
without permission
pedestrian crossing; crosswalk
circuit breaker
(railway) crossing gate; barrier (at a toll booth, parking lot, etc.)