断 means “refuse, cut off”

ことわる · kotowaru

Also: severance, decline, apologize

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): たつ, ことわる, さだめる
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ダン

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 5 · 11 strokes

The story

An axe (斤) chopping through a tied bundle (silk threads, in older forms): a clean cut. Cut off a request and you 断る, refuse it, and the 横断歩道 is the crosswalk that cuts straight across the road.

Used in 断る (kotowaru, to refuse), 判断 (handan, judgment), and 横断歩道 (oudanhodou, pedestrian crossing)

断 means “refuse, cut off”

The story

More from Council & Debate