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^[3], 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

1. A surname from Khmer.

Etymology 6

From Manipuri ꯆꯥꯟ (cān).

Proper noun

Chan

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

Anagrams

• Cahn, Ch*na

Dutch

Etymology

Clipping of Chandrikapersad.

Pronunciation

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

Proper noun

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^[4], 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

Pronunciation

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Noun

Chan m

1. alternative spelling of Khan

Usage notes

• The spelling Chan was deprecated in 2024 in a German spelling reform.

Derived terms

• Chanat

Further reading

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

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃhan/ [ˈt͡ʃhan]
• Rhymes: -an
• Syllabification: Chan

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Cantonese 陳 / 陈 (Can⁴). Doublet of Can.

Alternative forms

• Tjan (chiefly 1901–1947, 1947–1972)

Proper noun

Chan

1. a Chinese Indonesian surname from Cantonese.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Hokkien 曾 (Chan).

Alternative forms

• Tjan (chiefly 1901–1947, 1947–1972)

Proper noun

Chan

1. a Chinese Indonesian surname from Hokkien.

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Hokkien 詹 (Chan)

Proper noun

Chan

1. a Chinese Indonesian surname from Hokkien.

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from a Mayan language, of uncertain origin. Possibilities include:

• Akin to Epigraphic Mayan chan (“sky”);
• From Yucatec Maya chan (“small”);
• From Tabasco Chontal chan (“snake”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃan/ [ˈt͡ʃãn]
• Rhymes: -an
• Syllabification: Chan

Proper noun

Chan m or f by sense

1. a surname from the Mayan languages

Tagalog

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃan/ [ˈt͡ʃan̪]
  • IPA^(key): (no palatal assimilation) /ˈtsan/ [ˈt͡san̪]
• Rhymes: -an
• Syllabification: Chan

Etymology 1

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

Proper noun

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

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

Etymology 2

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

Proper noun

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

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