Chinese Character: 鉴
1. Character Basics
Radical: 金/jīn radical (金字旁)
Stroke Count: 13
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiàn (fourth tone)
3. Meaning
mirror, reflect, examine, appraise, learn from
4. Common Words
- 鉴定 (jiàn dìng) - appraise, evaluate, identify
- 鉴赏 (jiàn shǎng) - appreciate, connoisseurship
- 借鉴 (jiè jiàn) - draw lessons from, use as reference
- 鉴别 (jiàn bié) - distinguish, differentiate
- 图鉴 (tú jiàn) - illustrated guide, picture book
- 前车之鉴 (qián chē zhī jiàn) - lessons from past mistakes
5. Grammar & Usage
鉴 can be used as a noun meaning "mirror" or "something that reflects", and as a verb meaning "to examine", "to appraise", or "to learn from".
When used as a noun, 鉴 is often found in literary contexts or idioms. For example, 明镜高悬 (míng jìng gāo xuán) meaning "a bright mirror hung high" is an idiom that refers to impartial judgment.
As a verb, 鉴 is commonly used in compound words like 鉴定 (jiàn dìng) meaning "to appraise" or "to identify", and 鉴赏 (jiàn shǎng) meaning "to appreciate" or "to have connoisseurship".
Another important usage is in the phrase 借鉴 (jiè jiàn) meaning "to draw lessons from" or "to use as reference", which is often used in academic or professional contexts.
6. Cultural Background
The character 鉴 has a rich cultural history in China. Originally, it referred to a bronze mirror used in ancient China. These mirrors were not only practical tools but also symbols of wisdom and self-reflection.
In Chinese philosophy, the concept of using a mirror as a metaphor for self-examination has deep roots. The Confucian Analects contain the famous saying: "以铜为鉴，可以正衣冠；以古为鉴，可以知兴替；以人为鉴，可以明得失" (yǐ tóng wéi jiàn, kě yǐ zhèng yī guān; yǐ gǔ wéi jiàn, kě yǐ zhī xīng tì; yǐ rén wéi jiàn, kě yǐ míng dé shī) meaning "Using a bronze mirror, you can adjust your clothes and hat; using history as a mirror, you can understand rise and fall; using people as mirrors, you can understand gains and losses".
The character 鉴 is also closely associated with traditional Chinese art and culture. Connoisseurs of calligraphy, painting, and antiques use their knowledge to 鉴赏 (jiàn shǎng) or "appreciate" works of art, a practice that has been valued in Chinese society for centuries.
Today, the character 鉴 continues to be used in many contexts, from legal and scientific appraisal to cultural preservation and personal growth, reflecting its enduring significance in Chinese culture.
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 我们应该从历史中借鉴经验。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Wǒ men yīng gāi cóng lì shǐ zhōng jiè jiàn jīng yàn.
Translation (fān yì): We should draw lessons from history.
8. Memory Tips
The character 鉴 consists of two parts: 金 (jīn, gold, metal) on the left and 监 (jiān, supervise, monitor) on the right. You can remember it by thinking of "a metal (金) object that helps you monitor or see (监) yourself", which relates to its original meaning of "mirror" and extended meanings of "examine" or "appraise".
Another way to remember: 鉴 sounds like "jiàn" and is often used in the phrase 借鉴 (jiè jiàn) meaning "to draw lessons from". Think of the importance of learning from past experiences.
The radical 金 (metal) on the left of the character indicates that it is related to metal objects, which fits with its original meaning of a bronze mirror used in ancient China.