Definitions

jiān (verb) to pan fry; to sauté

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 煎 is structured as a phono-semantic compound with the semantic component 火 (fire) at the bottom, indicating its association with heat, and the phonetic component 前 at the top, which historically suggested its pronunciation. Its original meaning centered on cooking methods involving direct heat, specifically frying in oil or simmering in liquid, as documented in classical Chinese literature. Over time, the semantic scope of 煎 expanded to include related processes such as the decoction of herbal medicines, while also acquiring metaphorical applications to describe mental or physical distress, evident in lexical compounds where it conveys a sense of being subjected to prolonged suffering.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈在鸡蛋。

Māmā zài jiān jīdàn.

Mom is frying eggs.

我喜欢吃鱼。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī jiān yú.

I like to eat fried fish.

他用小火牛排。

Tā yòng xiǎo huǒ jiān niúpái.

He is pan-frying the steak over low heat.

饺子需要耐心。

Jiān jiǎozi xūyào nàixīn.

Frying dumplings requires patience.

奶奶擅长葱油饼。

Nǎinai shàncháng jiān cōngyóubǐng.

Grandma is good at making scallion pancakes.

这种药需要服。

Zhè zhǒng yào xūyào jiānfú.

This kind of medicine needs to be decocted and taken.

生活有时是一种熬。

Shēnghuó yǒushí shì yī zhǒng jiān'áo.

Life is sometimes an ordeal.

他在忍受着内心的熬。

Tā zài rěnshòu zhe nèixīn de jiān'áo.

He is enduring inner torment.