尖

jiān
#1,319 most
frequent character
pointed, shrill, sharp, acute
adjective
noun

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

尖 jiān puts small 小 over large 大, like a pointed shape. That arrangement gives the first sense, 'sharp, pointed'. From there it grew to 'tip, point'.

Drawn as: small over large

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Example Sentences

这个刀很尖。
zhègè dāo hěnjiān 。
This knife is very sharp.
他的声音很尖。
tāde shēngyīn hěnjiān 。
His voice is very shrill.
这座山的尖非常美丽。
zhè zuò shān de jiān fēicháng měilì 。
The tip of this mountain is very beautiful.

Words with similar meanings

锐利ruìlì
sharp
More common in describing edges or tools; suggests precision.
尖锐jiānruì
sharp
Similar meaning but often used in more intense or critical contexts.

Homophones

HSK 5
煎jiān
to pan fry, to sauté
间jiān
between, measure word for rooms
肩jiān
shoulder
兼jiān
to hold two posts at the same time
奸jiān
to fornicate, to defile, adultery
浅jiān
sound of moving water

Words Starting With 尖

尖锐jiān ruì
sharp; intense; penetrating; pointed; acute (illness)
尖端jiān duān
sharp pointed end; the tip; the cusp; tip-top; most advanced and sophisticated; highest peak; the best

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