Definitions

jiàn (classifier) classifier for items; objects; articles of clothing
jiàn (noun) item; matter; piece

Etymology

Depicts a person () cutting a cow () into pieces.

About

The character 件 is a phono-semantic compound, structurally composed of the semantic component 亻, indicating a person, and the phonetic component 牛, which originally represented an ox. Its earliest meanings were concrete, referring to a written document or a physical item, often one part of a set. Over time, its application shifted from denoting specific objects to functioning primarily as a general classifier or measure word for events, matters, and manufactured items, a grammatical role it holds in modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal 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

衣服很漂亮。

Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn piàoliang.

This piece of clothing is very beautiful.

我收到了你的邮

Wǒ shōu dào le nǐ de yóujiàn.

I received your email.

请你把这份文打印出来。

Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhè fèn wénjiàn dǎyìn chūlái.

Please print out this document.

这个案正在调查中。

Zhège ànjiàn zhèngzài diàochá zhōng.

This case is under investigation.

你需要满足几个基本条

Nǐ xūyào mǎnzú jǐ gè jīběn tiáojiàn.

You need to meet several basic requirements.

那起事引起了公众的广泛关注。

Nà qǐ shìjiàn yǐnqǐle gōngzhòng de guǎngfàn guānzhù.

That incident has aroused widespread public attention.

这台机器的零需要更换。

Zhè tái jīqì de língjiàn xūyào gēnghuàn.

The parts of this machine need to be replaced.

他仔细地清点了库房里的所有物

Tā zǐxì de qīngdiǎnle kùfáng lǐ de suǒyǒu wùjiàn.

He carefully inventoried all the items in the storeroom.