noun
Common
chan
chan
Chan (noun) means a single discussion channel on IRC or a similar chat network. Example: “You can join our chan to chat with other players.”
noun
1
A single discussion channel on IRC or a similar chat network.
"You can join our chan to chat with other players."
"The bot greets everyone who enters the chan."
"They created a new chan to discuss the game update."
2
An imageboard website, especially one modeled on 4chan-style anonymous posting.
"Many internet jokes start life on an anonymous chan."
"Moderators on the chan removed the thread within minutes."
"The meme first appeared on an obscure chan before spreading everywhere."
3
A school of Chinese Buddhism, known in Japan as Zen, that emphasizes sudden enlightenment reached through meditation rather than scripture study.
"She read a book about Chan teachings and sitting meditation."
"Chan masters often taught through short, surprising answers rather than long texts."
"The monastery still practices a form of Chan Buddhism dating back centuries."
How to use chan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: an online chat channel, an anonymous imageboard, or the Chinese Buddhist tradition better known in the West by its Japanese name, Zen.
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Word forms
- Plural
- chans
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You can join our _____ to chat with other players.
Etymology
The internet sense is a clipping of "channel." The Buddhist sense comes from Chinese chán, itself borrowed from Sanskrit dhyāna ("meditation").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for chan
See all rhymes for chan →Frequently asked questions
What does “chan” mean?
The word “chan” means a single discussion channel on IRC or a similar chat network. In plain terms, depending on context: an online chat channel, an anonymous imageboard, or the Chinese Buddhist tradition better known in the West by its Japanese name, Zen.
How do you pronounce “chan”?
“Chan” is pronounced chan (/t͡ʃæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “chan” in a sentence?
Here is “chan” used in a sentence: “They created a new chan to discuss the game update.”
What part of speech is “chan”?
“Chan” is a noun.
Where does the word “chan” come from?
The word “chan” comes from Sanskrit. The internet sense is a clipping of "channel." The Buddhist sense comes from Chinese chán, itself borrowed from Sanskrit dhyāna ("meditation").
Is “chan” a common word?
“Chan” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “chan” have?
“Chan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a single discussion channel on IRC or a similar chat network.
What is the difference between Chan and Zen?
They are the same tradition under two names. Chan is the school of Chinese Buddhism that emphasizes sudden enlightenment reached through meditation rather than scripture study, and Zen is what that school is called in Japan. Writers on Chinese Buddhism say Chan; writers on the Japanese tradition say Zen.
Why are anonymous imageboards called "chans"?
The label comes from the naming pattern of 4chan-style sites, where chan traces back to "channel." An imageboard modeled on that anonymous-posting format is informally called a chan. Separately, chan can also mean a single discussion channel on IRC or a similar chat network.
Is the Chan in Chan Buddhism related to the Japanese suffix -chan?
No. Chan Buddhism is a school of Chinese Buddhism, known in Japan as Zen, while -chan is a Japanese diminutive suffix added to names to show affection or familiarity. They are unrelated words that happen to share a spelling in English.
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