段落
duànluò
In Chinese, the word for paragraph is 段落 (duànluò). Wiktionary also lists 段 (duàn) and 自然段 (zìránduàn).
Meaning: passage in text (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 段落 | duànluò |
| 段 | duàn |
| 自然段 | zìránduàn |
The word refers to a passage of text. You might use the verb phrase 分段 to describe the action of dividing text into paragraphs.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 段 (duàn) literally means a section, segment or a piece of a whole.
Which one should you use?
While 段落 is a general term for a paragraph or section, 自然段 specifically refers to a 'natural paragraph' in the context of writing and composition.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 段 functions as a classifier (measure word) for paragraphs, such as in the phrase 一段話 (one paragraph of speech/text).
How do you pronounce it?
duànluò
Did you know?
- The character 段 originally depicted a person using a hammer to break a stone into pieces. This visual origin explains why the word evolved to mean a 'segment' or 'section' of a larger whole.
- In Chinese calligraphy, the concept of 段落 extends beyond punctuation to the 'breath' or rhythm of the brushstrokes, where a visual break serves as a structural paragraph.
- While English uses 'paragraph' for text, the Chinese character 段 is also a common measure word for time, such as 'a period of time' or 'a stage of a process'.
Examples in context
- 這一個段落是模糊不清的。This paragraph is vague.This sentence is useful for showing how to describe a paragraph using 段.Tatoeba #778548 by Martha, translation #57952 by CM
- 在这篇报告中，我将分析每个 段落 的重点。In this report, I will analyze the key points of each paragraph.
- 这本书的 自然段 划分清晰，易于阅读。The natural paragraphs in this book are well-defined and easy to read.
- 请将你的观点整理到不同的 文段 中。Please organize your thoughts into different sections of text.
- 請讀一下這個段落。Qǐng dú yīxià zhège duànluò.Please read this paragraph.
- 這個段落寫得很漂亮。Zhège duànluò xiě de hěn piàoliang.This paragraph is written beautifully.
Example conversation
Two students are reviewing an essay together.
- 俊杰 Junjie佳怡，你覺得這個段落寫得好嗎？Jiāyí, nǐ juéde zhège duànluò xiě de hǎo ma?Jiayi, do you think this paragraph is well-written?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我覺得這個段落需要修改。Wǒ juéde zhège duànluò xūyào xiūgǎi.I think this paragraph needs to be revised.
- 俊杰 Junjie我應該刪掉哪一部分？Wǒ yīnggāi shān diào nǎ yī bùfèn?Which part should I delete?
- 佳怡 Jiayi把最後兩句刪掉就好。Bǎ zuìhòu liǎng jù shān diào jiù hǎo.Just delete the last two sentences.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paragraph” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 段, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
