adjective / verb HSK 5
Traditional 殘
disabled · incomplete · 残害 to harm · 残忍 cruel · 残留 to remain
Meaning
残 (cán) primarily means 'incomplete,' 'damaged,' or 'disabled.' It describes something that is broken, partial, or impaired. The character often appears in compounds related to physical disability, cruelty,残害 (harm), or things that remain incomplete or damaged.
Usage
This character rarely stands alone in modern Mandarin and almost always appears in two-character compounds. Common contexts include discussing disabilities (残疾), describing cruelty or brutality (残忍, 残酷), or referring to remnants and leftovers (残留, 残羹剩饭). The tone can be quite serious or formal.
Examples
- 01战争给很多人留下了残疾。.War left many people with disabilities.
- 02这种残忍的行为令人发指。.This kind of cruel behavior is outrageous.
Common collocations
- 残疾人disabled person
- 残羹剩饭leftovers, scraps
- 残害生命to harm life
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 殘 combines 歹 (bad, evil) and 戔 (small, insignificant), suggesting something reduced or damaged to a lesser state.