Definitions

jiān surname Jian

Etymology

About

The character , derived from the traditional form , is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic radical (bamboo) sits on top, and the phonetic component (traditional ) below. It is almost entirely absent from modern standard vocabulary, surviving only as a proper noun in historical and mythological contexts. Its most notable occurrence is in the name Peng Jian (彭篯), a legendary figure celebrated for his immensely long lifespan, and through this name the character remains fixed in classical Chinese nomenclature.