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Chan. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Chan, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Chan in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
Chan you have here. The definition of the word
Chan will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
Chan, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Cantonese 陳/陈 (can4).
Proper noun
Chan
- A Chinese surname from Cantonese.
Etymology 2
From Hokkien 曾 (Chan).
Proper noun
Chan
- A Chinese surname from Hokkien.
Etymology 3
From Mandarin 詹 (Zhān).
Proper noun
Chan
- A surname from Chinese.
Etymology 4
Borrowed from the pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 禪 / 禅 (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.
Noun
Chan (uncountable)
- (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
- A surname from Khmer.
Etymology 6
From Manipuri ꯆꯥꯟ (chaan).
Proper noun
Chan
- Alternative form of Chanambam surname of Meitei origin
- Alternative form of Chandam surname of Meitei origin
Anagrams
Dutch
Etymology
Clipping of Chandrikapersad.
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Chan m
- (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
Noun
Chan m
- khan
Derived terms
Further reading
Tagalog
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Spanish Chan, from Hokkien 曾 (Chan). Doublet of Chang.
Proper noun
Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)
- a Chinese Filipino surname from Spanish
Etymology 2
Borrowed from English Chan, from Cantonese 陳/陈 (Can4). Doublet of Tan and Chen.
Proper noun
Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)
- a Chinese Filipino surname from English