艰

艱
jiān
#1,645 most
frequent character
difficult, hard, hardship

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

艰 uses 艮 gèn for the sound and 又, now empty. 又 was shortened from 漢 without 氵 jiān, which once showed an old punishment and also gave sound. The first meaning was disaster or calamity, which grew to difficult or hard, and to hardship.

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Homophones

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

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