Chinese Character: 渐
1. Character Basics
Radical: 氵/shuǐ radical (三点水)
Stroke Count: 11
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiàn (fourth tone) or jiān (first tone)
3. Meaning
gradually, slowly, by degrees, progressively
4. Common Words
- 逐渐 (zhú jiàn) - gradually, little by little
- 渐进 (jiàn jìn) - progress step by step, gradual progress
- 渐变 (jiàn biàn) - gradual change
- 渐入佳境 (jiàn rù jiā jìng) - getting better gradually
- 渐弱 (jiàn ruò) - gradually weaken
- 渐强 (jiàn qiáng) - gradually strengthen
5. Grammar & Usage
渐 is often used as an adverb meaning "gradually" or "slowly". It can also be used as a verb meaning "to become" or "to change gradually".
When used as an adverb, 渐 is typically placed before a verb to indicate that the action is happening gradually. For example, 天气渐冷 (tiān qì jiàn lěng) means "the weather is getting cold gradually".
渐 can also be used in compound words such as 逐渐 (zhú jiàn) which also means "gradually" but is more commonly used in modern Chinese.
In literary Chinese, 渐 can sometimes be used as a verb with the meaning "to soak" or "to wet", but this usage is rare in modern Chinese.
6. Cultural Background
The character 渐 has a rich cultural significance in Chinese philosophy and literature. It often appears in classical texts to describe the natural process of change and development.
In Taoism, the concept of gradual change is highly valued. The Tao Te Ching, a key Taoist text, emphasizes the importance of gradual progress and harmony with the natural flow of things.
渐 is also used in many Chinese idioms and proverbs to convey the idea that change happens slowly but surely. For example, 冰冻三尺非一日之寒 (bīng dòng sān chǐ fēi yī rì zhī hán) meaning "Rome wasn't built in a day" or "It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three feet deep".
In Chinese painting and calligraphy, the technique of 渐变 (jiàn biàn) or "gradual change" is often used to create depth and texture, reflecting the cultural appreciation for subtle and gradual transitions.
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 随着春天的到来，气温逐渐升高了。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Suí zhe chūn tiān de dào lái, qì wēn zhú jiàn shēng gāo le.
Translation (fān yì): With the arrival of spring, the temperature has gradually risen.
8. Memory Tips
The character 渐 consists of two parts: 氵 (shuǐ radical, meaning "water") on the left and 斩 (zhǎn, meaning "cut") on the right. You can remember it by thinking of "water (氵) that cuts (斩) through something gradually", which relates to its meaning of "gradually" or "slowly".
Another way to remember: 渐 sounds like "jiàn" and means "gradually". Think of the phrase "逐渐变化" (zhú jiàn biàn huà) meaning "gradual change".
The radical 氵 (water) on the left of the character may seem unrelated to its meaning at first, but it actually comes from the original meaning of the character, which was related to the gradual flow of water.