短
short (in length)
duǎn
What does 短 mean?
短 (duǎn) is the Chinese adjective for 'short' — describing length or duration that is less than expected. Use 短 for physical length (短头发 'short hair,' 短裙 'short skirt'), distance (路很短 'the road is short'), and time spans (短时间 'a short time,' 短假 'a short holiday'). The opposite is 长 (cháng, 'long'). Unlike English, Chinese keeps height and length distinct: 短 means short in length, while 矮 (ǎi) means short in height (of a person or building).
Don't say 他很短 to mean 'he is short' — say 他很矮. 短 also extends to abstract uses: 短信 (duǎnxìn) 'SMS / short text message,' 短视 (duǎnshì) 'short-sighted (figuratively),' 短处 (duǎnchu)
Character breakdown
short (with 矢 'arrow' radical on the left)
Memory hook: The arrow radical 矢 on the left — an arrow is short compared to a spear. Short = arrow-length.
Example sentences
她的头发很短。
Tā de tóufa hěn duǎn.
Her hair is very short.
neutral
这条裙子有点儿短。
Zhè tiáo qúnzi yǒudiǎnr duǎn.
This skirt is a bit short.
spoken
我们只有很短的时间。
Wǒmen zhǐ yǒu hěn duǎn de shíjiān.
We only have a very short amount of time.
neutral
夏天的衣服都是短的。
Xiàtiān de yīfu dōu shì duǎn de.
Summer clothes are all short.
neutral
请你给我发一个短信。
Qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ fā yí ge duǎnxìn.
Please send me a text message.
spoken
Common phrases with 短
Don't confuse 短 with
FAQ
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