Chan - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Cantonese 陳／陈 (can4).

Chan

  1. A Chinese surname from Cantonese.

From Hokkien 曾 (Chan).

Chan

  1. A Chinese surname from Hokkien.

From Mandarin 詹 (Zhān).

Chan

  1. A surname from Chinese.

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.

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.]

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.

From Khmer ចន្ទ (can).

Chan

  1. A surname from Khmer.

Borrowed from Manipuri ꯆꯥꯟ (cān).

Chan

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

Clipping of Chandrikapersad.

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.

Chan m

  1. alternative spelling of Khan

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

Chan

  1. a Chinese Indonesian surname from Cantonese.

Borrowed from Hokkien 曾 (Chan).

Chan

  1. a Chinese Indonesian surname from Hokkien.

Borrowed from Hokkien 詹 (Chan)

Chan

  1. a Chinese Indonesian surname from Hokkien.

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

Chan m or f by sense

  1. a surname from the Mayan languages

  2. ^ Mex Albornoz, William Humberto (2016), “Nombres de origen maya: observaciones sobre su significado, simbolismo prehispánico y colonial y su relación con los apellidos mayas peninsulares de la actualidad”, in Antrópica‎[1] (in Spanish), volume 2, number 3, →ISSN, pages 38-61

  3. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Güémez Pineda, Miguel A. (5 June 2025 (last accessed)), “Apellidos mayas y sus significados en la península de Yucatán”, in Yucatán: identidad y cultura maya‎[2] (in Spanish)

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

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

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

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

Chan (Baybayin spelling ᜆ᜔ᜐᜈ᜔)

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