Chan - Wikiwand

English

Pronunciation

(US) IPA^(key): /tʃæn/
Rhymes: -æn

Etymology 1

From Cantonese 陳／陈 (can⁴).

Proper noun

Chan

A Chinese surname from Cantonese.

Related terms

Etymology 2

From Hokkien 曾 (Chan).

Proper noun

Chan

A Chinese surname from Hokkien.

Related terms

Etymology 3

From Mandarin 詹 (Zhān).

Proper noun

Chan

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)

(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, 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

From Khmer ចន្ទ (can).

Proper noun

Chan

A surname from Khmer.

Etymology 6

From Manipuri ꯆꯥꯟ (cān).

Proper noun

Chan

Alternative form of Chanambam surname of Meitei origin
Alternative form of Chandam surname of Meitei origin

Anagrams

Cahn, Ch*na

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Dutch

Etymology

Clipping of Chandrikapersad.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tʃɑn/, [cɑn]
Rhymes: -ɑn
Hyphenation: Chan

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^[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.