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坚实 (jiān shí) — solid, firm, substantial

Definition

坚实 emphasizes a strong, dependable foundation — for physical structures, economic bases, or relationships that have been built up solidly. Pairs with 基础; 坚固 is more purely about physical sturdiness, while 雄厚 describes ample resources or strength.

adjective
solidfirmsubstantial

Examples

  • 坚实。
    Zhè ge guó jiā yǒu jiān shí de jīng jì jī chǔ.
    This country has a solid economic foundation.
  • 坚实。
    Zhè dǔ qiáng kàn qǐ lái shí fēn jiān shí.
    This wall looks very solid.
  • 坚实。
    Tā men zhī jiān de yǒu yì shí fēn jiān shí.
    Their friendship is very solid.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

坚jiānfirm
实shísolid

坚 means firm and 实 means solid, so together they describe something strong and substantial.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
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.

Open 坚 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Texture & Quality

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