Chan

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English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Cantonese (can4).

Proper noun

Chan

  1. A Chinese surname from Cantonese.

Etymology 2

From Hokkien (Chan).

Proper noun

Chan

  1. A Chinese surname from Hokkien.

Etymology 3

From Mandarin (Zhān).

Proper noun

Chan

  1. A surname from Chinese.

Etymology 4

Borrowed from the pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese  / (Chán), a development and clipping of Middle Chinese 禪那 (MC dzyen na), a transcription of Sanskrit ध्यान (dhyāna, literally meditation). Doublet of dhyana and Zen.

Alternative forms

Noun

Chan (uncountable)

  1. (Buddhism) A major Chinese school of Mahayana Buddhism characterized by sudden enlightenment achieved by indirect means, developed in Japan as Zen.
    • , New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 261, column 2:
      It is possible that highly calligraphic painting styles, including the extreme forms of “flung-ink,” began at this time, but probably not under Ch’an Buddhist influence, which figured in the religious life of the dynasty.]
Usage notes

The Chinese school and its masters are most often encountered in English under their Japanese names. When Chan is encountered, it is usually pointedly giving primacy to the Chinese schools which developed the major doctrines or attempting to distinguish particularly Chinese elements from those found in Japanese Zen.

Synonyms

Etymology 5

From Khmer ចន្ទ (can).

Proper noun

Chan

  1. A surname from Khmer.

Etymology 6

From Manipuri ꯆꯥꯟ (chaan).

Proper noun

Chan

  1. Alternative form of Chanambam surname of Meitei origin
  2. Alternative form of Chandam surname of Meitei origin

Anagrams

Dutch

Etymology

Clipping of Chandrikapersad.

Pronunciation

Proper noun

Chan m

  1. (Suriname, informal) Chan Santokhi
    • 2023 May 23, Nita Ramcharan, “Column: De olifant heeft muisje gebaard... [Column: The elephant has given birth to a mouse...]”, in StarNieuws, retrieved 22 September 2023:
      Chan baalt al heel lang van sommige ministers, vandaar dat de ene commissie, werkgroep, taskforce, adviseurs, platforms a la dol worden benoemd.
      President Santokhi has long been frustrated with some ministers, which is why commissions, working groups, task forces, advisers, forums are appointed like crazy.

German

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Chan m

  1. khan

Derived terms

Further reading

Tagalog

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Spanish Chan, from Hokkien (Chan). Doublet of Chang.

Proper noun

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

  1. a Chinese Filipino surname from Spanish

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English Chan, from Cantonese (Can4). Doublet of Tan and Chen.

Proper noun

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

  1. a Chinese Filipino surname from English