Dictionary

Chan en · PROPN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /tʃæn/ (US)

Etymology

Borrowed from Cantonese 陳 /陈 (can⁴).

Meanings

1. A Chinese surname from Cantonese.

Forms

Relateds

Chen · Tan · Tang

Chan en · PROPN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /tʃæn/ (US)

Etymology

Borrowed from Hokkien 曾 (Chan).

Meanings

1. A Chinese surname from Hokkien.

Forms

Relateds

Tsang · Tseng · Zeng

Chan en · PROPN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /tʃæn/ (US)

Etymology

From the Wade–Giles romanization Chan¹ of Mandarin 詹 (Zhān).

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of Zhan, A Chinese surname from Mandarin.
   alt of A Chinese surname from Mandarin
   alt of Zhan

Relateds

Tsim · Chim

Chan en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• /tʃæn/ (US)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) A major Chinese school of Mahayana Buddhism characterized by sudden enlightenment achieved by indirect means, developed in Japan as Zen.
   • 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. [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:

Forms

Synonyms

Zen Buddhism · Zen

Chan en · PROPN · etymology 5

Pronunciation

• /tʃæn/ (US)

Etymology

From Khmer ចន្ទ (can).

Meanings

1. A surname from Khmer.

Chan en · PROPN · etymology 6

Pronunciation

• /tʃæn/ (US)

Etymology

Borrowed from Manipuri ꯆꯥꯟ (cān).

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of Chanambam surname of Meitei origin
   alt of Chanambam surname of Meitei origin
2. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of Chandam surname of Meitei origin
   alt of Chandam surname of Meitei origin