段
MW for a stretch / period / paragraph
duàn
What does 段 mean?
段 (duàn) is a measure word for a stretch, section, segment, or period of something — anything that can be divided into discrete linear chunks. Use 段 for sections of road (一段路 'a stretch of road'), periods of time (一段时间 'a period of time'), paragraphs of text (一段话 'a passage of speech,' 一段文章 'a paragraph of an article'), pieces of music (一段音乐 'a section of music'), and parts of a story or relationship (一段爱情 'a love affair,' 一段历史 'a period of history'). Pattern: number + 段 + noun.
The underlying image is something long that has been cut into pieces — fitting, since 段 also functions as a verb meaning 'to break / cut into sections' in classical usage. Don't confuse 段 with 断 (duàn, 'to snap / break'), the verb that's written differently but sounds identical.
Character breakdown
section; segment; measure word for stretches
Memory hook: Think of a long rope cut into segments — each cut piece is one 段.
Example sentences
我学中文已经有一段时间了。
Wǒ xué Zhōngwén yǐjīng yǒu yí duàn shíjiān le.
I've been studying Chinese for a while now.
neutral
前面有一段路不好走。
Qiánmiàn yǒu yí duàn lù bù hǎo zǒu.
There's a stretch of road ahead that isn't easy to walk.
spoken
请你读一下这段话。
Qǐng nǐ dú yíxià zhè duàn huà.
Please read this passage out loud.
neutral
他唱了一段很好听的歌。
Tā chàng le yí duàn hěn hǎotīng de gē.
He sang a beautiful section of a song.
spoken
那是中国历史上很重要的一段时间。
Nà shì Zhōngguó lìshǐ shàng hěn zhòngyào de yí duàn shíjiān.
That was a very important period in Chinese history.
written
Common phrases with 段
Synonyms
节 also measures sections, especially of class periods (一节课), train cars (一节车厢), or bamboo joints. 段 is more about stretches of time, road, or text. 一节课 = one class period; 一段时间 = a period of time.
阵 measures a burst or short spell, especially of weather or emotion (一阵雨 'a shower,' 一阵风 'a gust'). 段 is for longer, continuous stretches. 一阵 is brief; 一段 is sustained.
Don't confuse 段 with
断 (verb) means 'to snap / break / cut off' (绳子断了 'the rope broke'). 段 (measure word) means a section or stretch. Same pronunciation, different characters and grammar.
短 (third tone) is the adjective 'short.' 段 (fourth tone) is the measure word for a section. Different tone, different word class.
段落 is the noun 'paragraph (of writing).' 段