建

jiàn

廴 + 聿

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

jiàn (verb) to build; to construct

jiàn (verb) to establish; to set up; to found

Etymology

Depicts a hand setting up a wooden post (聿) at the corner of a building site (𠃊).

Semantic: 廴 Phonetic: 聿

About

建 combines 廴, the long stride radical, wrapping around the left and bottom, with 聿 on the right. In its early form, 聿 shows a hand setting up a wooden post, while 廴 represents the corner of a building site, together depicting a post planted to mark a foundation. The character conveys building, establishing, and founding, extending from physical construction to the creation of institutions, states, and organized systems.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Xin dynasty (9-23 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们正在建房子。

Wǒmen zhèngzài jiàn fángzi.

We are building a house.

这座城市建了很多公园。

Zhè zuò chéngshì jiàn le hěn duō gōngyuán.

This city has built many parks.

他们建议早点儿出发。

Tāmen jiànyì zǎo diǎn er chūfā.

They suggest leaving earlier.

学校建立了新的图书馆。

Xuéxiào jiànlì le xīn de túshūguǎn.

The school established a new library.

政府计划建设高速公路。

Zhèngfǔ jìhuà jiànshè gāosù gōnglù.

The government plans to construct a highway.

这座建筑建于1990年。

Zhè zuò jiànzhù jiàn yú 1990 nián.

This building was built in 1990.

我们需要建立健全的制度。

Wǒmen xūyào jiànlì jiànquán de zhìdù.

We need to establish a sound system.

通过合作，我们共建美好未来。

Tōngguò hézuò, wǒmen gòngjiàn měihǎo wèilái.

Through cooperation, we jointly build a beautiful future.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 廴

Component: 聿

Example Words