建

jiàn
#244 most
frequent character
build, construct, erect, establish
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

建 once showed a person planting a pole firmly in an L-shaped embankment. That gave the first meaning, 'to plant a large pole'. From there it grew to 'to build' and 'to found, establish'. The modern 聿 and 廴 are worn forms of those old pictures.

Drawn as: person planting pole; L-shaped embankment

建 as a component in other characters

sound7 characters
健键腱犍毽踺楗

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Example Sentences

我们要建一座新房子。
wǒmen yào jiàn yīzuò xīn fángzǐ 。
We want to build a new house.
他打算在乡村建一个学校。
tā dǎsuàn zài xiāngcūn jiàn yígè xuéxiào 。
He plans to establish a school in the countryside.
他们正在建一个大桥。
tāmen zhèngzài jiàn yígè dà qiáo 。
They are currently constructing a large bridge.

Words with similar meanings

建立jiànlì
establish
More formal, often used in contexts involving institutions or systems.
构建gòujiàn
construct
Similar meaning, often used in technical or structural contexts.

Homophones

HSK 2
件jiàn
item, component
HSK 6
溅jiàn
splash
见jiàn
see, meet
键jiàn
key, bond
箭jiàn
arrow

Words Starting With 建

建立jiàn lì
to build; to establish; to set up; to found
建筑jiàn zhù
building; to construct; Taiwan pr. jian4 zhu2
建议jiàn yì
"to propose; to suggest; to recommend; proposal; suggestion; recommendation
建设jiàn shè
to build; to construct; construction; constructive

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