Chinese Dictionary

Usage of the character 砍

to chop
to cut down
to throw sth at sb

to decapitate; to behead

to attack with a bladed weapon

to bargain
to cut or beat down a price

to chop off

to hack to death
to kill with an ax

to hew
to cut down

to wound with a blade or hatchet
to slash
to gash

machete

to chop wood
to chop down trees

to chat (1980s Beijing slang)
to chew the fat

lànkǎnlànfá

wanton destruction of forested lands

kǎntóubùguòfēngchuīmào

砍头不过风吹帽

[砍頭不過風吹帽]

to regard decapitation as no more important than the wind blowing off your hat (idiom)

módāobùwùkǎncháigōng

磨刀不误砍柴工

[磨刀不誤砍柴工]

lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
a beard well lathered is half shaved