Duan

/ˈduːɑːn/ noun

Definition

In Chinese poetry and literature, a specific section or chapter, or a stanza in traditional Chinese verse.

Etymology

From Chinese 'duàn' (段) meaning 'section' or 'segment,' literally referring to a piece or division of text. The term reflects how Chinese literature traditionally organizes content into defined units.

Kelly Says

Chinese poetry duans are organized completely differently than Western stanzas—they follow tonal patterns and semantic completeness rather than rhyme schemes, which is why Chinese poems often seem 'broken' when literally translated into English.

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