坚 (jiān) — firm; hard; strong (physical); firmly; resolutely (abstract); (used in surnames)
Definition
坚 (jiān) is a bound morpheme — it does not stand alone and only appears in compounds like 坚定, 坚固, 坚持 (firm/strong, sturdy, persist).
bound form
firmhardstrong (physical)firmlyresolutely (abstract)(used in surnames)
Easily confused
- 竖shùlook-alike(adjective) vertical, upright
- 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
Examples
- 。Tā de yì zhì fēi cháng jiān dìng.His will is very steadfast.
- 。Zhè dòng dà lóu de jié gòu hěn jiān gù.The structure of this building is very sturdy.
- 。Tā jiān chí měi tiān duàn liàn shēn tǐ.She persists in exercising every day.
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 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān堅jiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 堅 pairs 臤, giving the sound, with 土, earth, giving the sense; the simplified 坚 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
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