Chinese Character: 煎
1. Character Basics
Radical: 灬/huǒ radical (fire)
Stroke Count: 13
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiān
Pronunciation Note: Pronounced with a high and level tone (first tone).
3. Meaning
fry, shallow fry, decoct (medicine), roast, torment
4. Common Words
- 煎蛋 (jiāndàn) - fried egg - An egg cooked by frying
- 煎饼 (jiānbǐng) - pancake - A thin, flat cake cooked on a griddle
- 煎熬 (jiānáo) - suffer, endure hardship - To experience suffering or hardship
- 煎药 (jiānyào) - decoct medicine - To simmer herbs to make traditional Chinese medicine
- 油炸 (yóuzhá) - deep fry - To cook food in hot oil
- 煎锅 (jiānguō) - frying pan - A pan used for frying food
5. Grammar & Usage
1. As a verb: "煎" is primarily used as a verb meaning to fry or shallow fry food, as in "煎蛋" (fried egg).
2. As a verb: It can also mean to decoct, especially in the context of traditional Chinese medicine, as in "煎药" (decoct medicine).
3. In compounds: It is often found in compound words related to cooking methods or the process of煎熬.
4. In idioms: "煎" appears in idiomatic expressions that convey the idea of suffering or enduring hardship, as in "煎心熬肺" (suffer great mental anguish).
6. Cultural Background
The character "煎" holds significant cultural importance in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine. In Chinese cooking, frying is one of the fundamental cooking techniques, with many regional specialties featuring fried dishes. The art of frying has been perfected over centuries, with precise control of heat and oil being crucial. In traditional Chinese medicine, decocting herbs (煎药) is a key process in preparing herbal remedies, where different herbs are simmered together to extract their medicinal properties. The character also appears in cultural expressions related to endurance and perseverance, reflecting the idea that difficult experiences can lead to growth and transformation.
7. Example Sentence
我妈妈每天早上给我煎鸡蛋。
Pinyin: Wǒ māma měitiān zǎoshang gěi wǒ jiān jīdàn.
Translation: My mother fries eggs for me every morning.
8. Memory Tips
The character "煎" is composed of the radical "灬" (fire) and the component "前" (front). You can remember it by thinking of cooking food in front of fire (灬), which symbolizes the frying process. The character has 13 strokes, so practice writing it carefully to master the stroke order.