English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Cantonese (can4).

Proper noun

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Chan

  1. A Chinese surname from Cantonese.
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Etymology 2

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From Hokkien (Chan).

Proper noun

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Chan

  1. A Chinese surname from Hokkien.
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Etymology 3

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From Mandarin (Zhān).

Proper noun

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Chan

  1. A surname from Chinese.
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Etymology 4

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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

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Noun

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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
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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
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Etymology 5

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From Khmer ចន្ទ (can).

Proper noun

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Chan

  1. A surname from Khmer.

Etymology 6

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From Manipuri ꯆꯥꯟ (chaan).

Proper noun

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Chan

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

Anagrams

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Dutch

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Etymology

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Clipping of Chandrikapersad.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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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[2], retrieved 22 September 2023:
      Chan baalt al heel lang van sommige ministers, vandaar dat de ene[sic] 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

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Pronunciation

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  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Chan m

  1. khan

Derived terms

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Further reading

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Tagalog

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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

Proper noun

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Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

  1. a Chinese Filipino surname from Spanish [in turn from Hokkien]

Etymology 2

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

Proper noun

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Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

  1. a Chinese Filipino surname from English [in turn from Cantonese]