笺 (jiān) — writing paper, stationery (especially for letters); annotation, commentary (on a text)
Definition
笺 (jiān) is a bound form used in literary compounds meaning 'letter paper' (信笺) or 'annotations on a text' (笺注). Always combines with another character rather than standing alone.
bound form
writing paperstationery (especially for letters)annotationcommentary (on a text)
Easily confused
- 间jiānsound-alike(classifier) for rooms, offices, and other enclosed spaces
- 尖jiānsound-alike(adjective) sharp, pointed; shrill, tapering, piercing; acute, keen
- 煎jiānsound-aliketo pan-fry; to sauté
- 兼jiānsound-aliketo hold two or more positions or roles at the same time; to concurrently hold
- 肩jiānsound-alike(noun) shoulder
- 坚jiānsound-alikefirm; hard; strong (physical)
Examples
- 。Tā zài bàn gōng zhuō shàng fàng le yì běn biàn jiān.He put a notepad on his desk.
- 笺。Zhè fēng xìn jiān de zhǐ zhì hěn hǎo.The quality of this letter paper is very good.
- 笺。Zhè běn gǔ shī jí de jiān zhù fēi cháng xiáng xì.The annotations in this anthology of ancient poetry are very detailed.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 箋; 笺 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
戔
戔jiān箋jiān
Same sound today
The traditional form 箋 combines 竹, bamboo, with 戔 to give the sound; it refers to a small bamboo strip or label. The simplified 笺 is a shorthand.
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