Definitions

jiǎn ancient weapon like a long solid metal truncheon

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

(traditional ) is a phono-semantic compound: the metal radical () provides the meaning, and (, jiān) gives the pronunciation. Originally it referred to a metal linchpin that secured a cartwheel to its axle, and later it also came to denote a traditional Chinese melee weapon, a solid, non-edged metal rod similar to a mace or iron truncheon, used for bludgeoning.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern