Chan

See also: Appendix:Variations of "chan"

English

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /tʃæn/
• Rhymes: -æn

Etymology 1

From Cantonese 陳／陈 (can⁴).

Proper noun

Chan

1. A Chinese surname from Cantonese.

Related terms

• Chen
• Tan
• Tang

Etymology 2

From Hokkien 曾 (Chan).

Proper noun

Chan

1. A Chinese surname from Hokkien.

Related terms

• Zeng
• Tseng
• Tsang

Etymology 3

From Mandarin 詹 (Zhān).

Proper noun

Chan

1. A surname from Chinese.

Related terms

• Zhan
• Chim, Tsim

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.

Alternative forms

• Ch'an (obsolete)

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.
   • [1964, Sherman E. Lee, “The Rise of the Arts of Painting and Ceramics in China”, in A History of Far Eastern Art‎^[1], 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

• Zen, Zen Buddhism

Etymology 5

Khmer ចន្ទ (can).

Proper noun

Chan

1. A surname from Khmer.

Etymology 6

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

• Cahn

German

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Chan m

1. khan

Derived terms

• Chanat

Further reading

• “Chan” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Chan (Herberge, Karawanserei)” in Duden online

Tagalog

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃan/, [ˈt͡ʃan]
• Rhymes: -an

Etymology 1

From Spanish Chan, from Hokkien 曾 (Chan). Doublet of Chang.

Proper noun

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

1. a surname from Hokkien

Etymology 2

From English Chan, from Cantonese 陳／陈 (Can⁴). Doublet of Tan and Chen.

Proper noun

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

1. a surname from Cantonese