Definitions

jiàn (noun) mountain stream; ravine

Etymology

A stream flowing through a valley  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "涧", denoting a mountain stream or ravine, originates from its traditional form "澗", which combines the water radical with the component "間" to conceptually represent water flowing through a confined interval between hills. This structural etymology has consistently pointed to a specific topographic feature, and the character's core meaning has maintained this focus over time. The simplified form "涧" preserves the water radical while incorporating "间", a streamlined version that continues to suggest the notion of an intermediate space, thereby upholding the original semantic intent without altering the fundamental idea of a narrow watercourse in mountainous terrain.

Etymology Hide

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

的水很清。

Shān jiàn de shuǐ hěn qīng.

The water of the mountain stream is very clear.

我们沿着山走。

Wǒmen yán zhe shān jiàn zǒu.

We walk along the mountain stream.

水从山上流下来。

Jiàn shuǐ cóng shān shàng liú xià lái.

The stream water flows down from the mountain.

孩子在边玩耍。

Háizi zài jiàn biān wánshuǎ.

Children play by the stream.

雨后山的水位上涨了。

Yǔ hòu shān jiàn de shuǐwèi shàngzhǎng le.

After the rain, the water level of the mountain stream rose.

他们决定在谷中露营。

Tāmen juédìng zài jiàn gǔ zhōng lùyíng.

They decided to camp in the ravine.

清澈的水倒映着蓝天。

Qīngchè de jiàn shuǐ dàoyìng zhe lántiān.

The clear stream water reflects the blue sky.

尽管山狭窄,但水流却十分湍急。

Jǐnguǎn shān jiàn xiázhǎi, dàn shuǐliú què shífēn tuānjí.

Although the mountain stream is narrow, the water flow is very rapid.