坚
Character Story & Explanation
坚 is widely used in modern Chinese across formal and everyday contexts: in news headlines ('坚不可摧的防线' — 'an impregnable defense line'), education ('坚持学习' — 'persist in studying'), and common idioms like 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bù xiè, 'persevere tirelessly'), cited in official media and textbooks since the 1950s. It also appears in the classic idiom 海枯石烂，此心不变 (‘even if seas dry and rocks crumble, this heart won’t change’), where 石烂 implies erosion of even the hardest stone—highlighting 坚 as the ideal opposite.
The character’s earliest attested form appears in bronze inscriptions (c. 11th–3rd century BCE) as a compound of 土 (earth/ground) and 臣 (a kneeling servant or, in some analyses, a simplified form suggesting ‘to submit fully’—later evolving into the current top component). Scholars (e.g., Xu Shen’s *Shuōwén Jiězì*, 100 CE) define it as ‘solid as earth’, emphasizing unyielding firmness—not pictographic, but ideographic through combination.
Hi students! Let’s learn 坚 (jiān), a foundational HSK Level 4 character meaning 'strong', 'firm', or 'resolute'. It’s not just about physical strength—it often describes unshakable will, steadfast beliefs, or durable materials. You’ll see it in words like 'firmly hold' (坚持) and 'hard rock' (坚硬). Notice its radical 土 (tǔ, 'earth/soil')—a clue that its original sense relates to solidity found in earth and stone.
The character has only 7 strokes, making it beginner-friendly to write—but don’t rush! Each stroke builds stability: start with the horizontal line (一), then the vertical (丨), followed by the left-falling stroke (丿), and so on. Practice slowly to internalize the rhythm. Its compact shape mirrors its meaning: compact, dense, unwavering.
Unlike characters for 'power' (力) or 'courage' (勇), 坚 emphasizes endurance over force. Think of bamboo bending but not breaking—it’s 坚, not just strong, but resilient. This nuance appears everywhere: in speeches about national resilience, study habits ('persevering in learning'), and even product labels ('durable material'). Mastering 坚 helps you express depth in Chinese—not just strength, but quiet, lasting resolve.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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