Chinese Character: 建
1. Character Basics
Radical: 廴/yǐn radical (建之旁)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiàn (fourth tone)
3. Meaning
build, construct, establish, set up, found
4. Common Words
- 建设 (jiàn shè) - build, construct, develop
- 建筑 (jiàn zhù) - building, architecture
- 建立 (jiàn lì) - establish, set up, found
- 建议 (jiàn yì) - suggestion, proposal, recommend
- 建国 (jiàn guó) - found a nation, establish a country
- 建造 (jiàn zào) - build, construct
5. Grammar & Usage
建 is a verb that means "to build" or "to establish". It is often used in formal and书面 contexts.
The basic structure is: 建 + Object. For example: "建房子" (jiàn fángzi) - "build a house" or "建医院" (jiàn yīyuàn) - "build a hospital"
建 can also be used in compound verbs like 建设 (jiàn shè) meaning "to develop" or "to construct", and 建立 (jiàn lì) meaning "to establish" or "to set up"
When used in the phrase 建议 (jiàn yì), it means "suggestion" or "proposal". This is a noun formed by combining 建 with 议
6. Cultural Background
The character 建 has deep cultural significance in Chinese civilization. It symbolizes creation, development, and progress.
In ancient Chinese culture, 建 was often associated with the construction of important structures like palaces, temples, and city walls. These projects represented the power and prosperity of a kingdom.
Today, 建 is widely used in modern China, especially in the context of urban development and infrastructure projects. Phrases like 城市建设 (chéng shì jiàn shè) meaning "urban construction" are common in everyday language.
The character 建 is also used in the names of many important national institutions and events, reflecting its importance in Chinese culture and society.
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 我们需要建设一个更加美好的未来。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Wǒ men xū yào jiàn shè yī gè gèng jiā měi hǎo de wèi lái.
Translation (fān yì): We need to build a better future.
8. Memory Tips
The character 建 consists of two parts: 聿 (yù, brush) on top and 廴 (yǐn, walking) at the bottom. You can remember it by thinking of "using a brush to plan the construction" or "drawing up plans for building"
Another way to remember: 建 sounds like "jiàn" and means "build". Think of the phrase "建设国家" (jiàn shè guó jiā) meaning "build a nation"
The radical 廴 (yǐn, walking) at the bottom of the character suggests movement or progress, which fits with the meaning of building and developing.