How to Say
How to Write
jiān
Radical: 戈 5 strokes
Meaning: narrow
💡 Imagine two tiny axes (戈) overlapping, leaving only a narrow space between them.
Compounds

📚 Character Story & Explanation

戋 (jiān) meaning in English —

Detective's note: The character 戋 (jiān) originally depicted two small overlapping axes, symbolizing something 'narrow' or 'small'. It rarely stands alone but appears as a component in characters like 浅 (shallow) and 钱 (money), conveying a sense of smallness or narrowness. In ancient texts, it sometimes meant 'to destroy' or 'to cut down'.

💬 Example Sentences

Common Compounds

Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up

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