荐 (jiàn) — (bound form) to recommend
Definition
荐 (jiàn) is a bound form meaning 'to recommend' — it never stands alone; it must combine with a verb like 推 (推荐) or 自 (自荐).
bound form
to recommend
Easily confused
- 存cúnlook-aliketo deposit (money in a bank)
- 见jiànsound-aliketo see; to meet
- 茬chálook-alike(classifier) for a batch of crops, harvest, or crop rotation
- 件jiànsound-alike(classifier) for items of clothing, objects, and matters
- 建jiànsound-aliketo build, to establish, to construct
- 剑jiànsound-alikedouble-edged sword
Examples
- 。Péng you gěi wǒ tuī jiàn le yì běn hǎo shū.My friend recommended a good book to me.
- 。Wǒ xiǎng zì jiàn cān jiā zhè ge xiàng mù.I want to recommend myself for this project.
- ？Nǐ néng tuī jiàn yí gè kào pǔ de lǜ shī ma?Can you recommend a reliable lawyer?
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 薦; 荐 is its simplified writing.
- 艸艸cǎograss
- 廌廌zhìwild beast
The traditional form 薦 combines 艸 (grass) and 廌 (wild beast) to show a pasture. It was later borrowed for its sound to mean 'recommend'.
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