Definitions

jiàn a shuttlecock

Etymology phono-semantic

feathers

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound character denoting a shuttlecock, the object kicked in a traditional East Asian game. Its semantic radical (máo, 'hair' or 'feathers') indicates the feather material used to make the shuttlecock's flight, while the phonetic component (jiàn) provides the pronunciation. The character was created for this sporting item and its definition is strictly limited to that physical object; it does not function as a verb or develop extended meanings.