Definitions

jiàn (noun) sword; blade

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 剑 (traditional: 劍) is a phono-semantic compound. Its right side features the knife radical 刂, indicating it belongs to the category of bladed weapons. The left side provides the phonetic component 僉 (qiān, meaning "all" or "together"), with the simplified form 剑 substituting this for the component 佥. Etymologically, the character specifically denotes a double-edged, straight sword used for thrusting and cutting, distinct from single-edged curved sabers. While its core meaning has remained consistent, it also appears in compounds related to fencing, martial arts, and swordsmanship techniques.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一把宝

Zhè shì yī bǎ bǎojiàn.

This is a treasure sword.

他练习术。

Tā liànxí jiànshù.

He practices swordsmanship.

客挥舞着

Jiànkè huīwǔ zhe jiàn.

The swordsman is waving the sword.

这把非常锋利。

Zhè bǎ jiàn fēicháng fēnglì.

This sword is very sharp.

他用自己的战斗。

Tā yòng zìjǐ de jiàn zhàndòu.

He fights with his own sword.

柄上刻着花纹。

Jiànbǐng shàng kè zhe huāwén.

There are patterns carved on the sword hilt.

在博物馆里看到古

Zài bówùguǎn lǐ kàndào gǔ jiàn.

I saw an ancient sword in the museum.

术大师教授学生技巧。

Jiànshù dàshī jiàoshòu xuéshēng jìqiǎo.

The swordsmanship master teaches students techniques.