Definition of "Chan"

Chan¹

/tʃæn/

proper noun
1. A Chinese surname from Cantonese.

Chan²

/tʃæn/

proper noun
1. A Chinese surname from Hokkien.

Chan³

/tʃæn/

proper noun
1. A surname from Chinese.

Chan⁴

/tʃæn/

noun
uncountable
1. (Buddhism) A major Chinese school of Mahayana Buddhism characterized by sudden enlightenment achieved by indirect means, developed in Japan as Zen.
  Quotations
  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.]
  , New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, page 261, column 2

Chan⁵

/tʃæn/

proper noun
1. A surname from Khmer.

Chan⁶

/tʃæn/

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