Chinese Dictionary

Usage of the character 斬

to behead (as form of capital punishment)
to chop

variant of 嶄新／崭新 (zhǎnxīn)

to kill or capture (in battle)
(fig.) (sports) to score (a goal); to win (a medal)
(fig.) to reap rewards; to achieve gains

to cut off
to chop sth in half

to chop sb in half at the waist (capital punishment)
to cut sth in half
to reduce sth by a dramatic margin
to terminate
to cut short

to blink (literary)

to behead

to behead; to decapitate

Cantonese poached chicken, known as "white cut chicken"

pījīngzhǎnjí

lit. to cut one's way through thistles and thorns (idiom)
fig. to overcome all obstacles on the way
to break through hardships
to blaze a new trail

zhǎnshǒuxíngdòng

(military) decapitation strike

shāhǔzhǎnjiāo

lit. to kill the tiger and behead the scaly dragon

mǎnménchāozhǎn

to execute the whole family and confiscate their property

zhǎn'érbùzòu

to do sth and not report the fact (idiom)

guòguānzhǎnjiàng

to surmount all difficulties (on the way to success) (idiom) (abbr. for 過五關斬六將／过五关斩六将 (guòwǔguānzhǎnliùjiàng))

zhǎndīngjiétiě

lit. to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)
fig. resolute and decisive; unhesitating; categorical

xiānzhǎnhòuzòu

lit. first execute the criminal, then report it to the emperor (idiom)
fig. to take some drastic action without the prior approval of higher authorities

zhǎncǎochúgēn

to cut weeds and eliminate the roots (idiom); to destroy root and branch
to eliminate completely

kuàidāozhǎnluànmá

快刀斩乱麻

[快刀斬亂麻]

lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
cutting the Gordian knot

guòwǔguānzhǎnliùjiàng

过五关斩六将

[過五關斬六將]

lit. to cross five passes and slay six generals (idiom)
fig. to surmount all difficulties (on the way to success)

liǎngguóxiāngzhēng,bùzhǎnláishǐ

两国相争，不斩来使

[兩國相爭，不斬來使]

when two kingdoms are at war, they don't execute envoys (idiom)