Meaning
to establish; to found; to set up; to build; to construct
Chinese: 建立、建设。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “jian” becomes a different word in each tone. 建 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 建议jiàn yìto propose; to suggest; to recommend; proposal
- 建立jiàn lìto establish; to set up; to found
- 建设jiàn shèto build; to construct; to establish; to develop
- 建成jiàn chéngto establish; to build
- 建筑jiàn zhùto construct; building
Example Sentence
工人们正在建一座新桥。Gōng rén men zhèng zài jiàn yí zuò xīn qiáo.The workers are building a new bridge.
工人Gōng rénworker们men(plural marker)正zhèngfirst month of the lunar y在建zài jiànunder construction一yíone座zuòseat新xīnnew桥qiáobridge。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
廴 (to stride/extend) plus 聿 (a hand holding a brush, laying out plans): to set up — ‘to build, construct, establish, found; to propose’ (建立, 建设, 建议).
A way to remember it
Lay out the plan (聿) and extend it (廴) — to build, establish.