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健将 (jiàn jiāng) — top-notch player; expert; ace

Definition

健将 (jiànjiāng) means a top-tier expert, typically in sports or a skilled craft — 'ace' or 'master'. The 健 emphasizes physical skill and vigor, so it suits athletes or highly active fields best.

noun
top-notch playerexpertace
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 健将。
    Tā shì yí wèi zhù míng de lán qiú jiàn jiāng.
    He is a famous basketball ace.
  • 健将。
    Tā zài biān chéng fāng miàn shì yí wèi jiàn jiāng.
    She is an expert in programming.
  • 健将。
    Zhè wèi wéi qí jiàn jiāng yíng dé le shì jiè guàn jūn.
    This Go master won the world championship.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

健jiànstrong
将jiāngleader

健 conveys strength and 将 conveys a leader, giving a strong leader or top player.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
建
建jiàn健jiàn
Same sound today

The left part 亻 depicts a person, and the right part 建 gives the sound.

Open 健 →

Most 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 將; 将 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán將jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 將 combines 爿, which also supplies a sound and may show a small table, with ⺼ (meat) and 寸 (hand) to picture offering meat as tribute. The simplified 将 is a later shorthand.

Open 将 →
Appears in
Sports & Athletics

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