建 jiàn to build
to build; to establish; to construct
How to remember 建: 廴 stride + 聿 writing brush = to build. The architect takes one long stride across the empty lot, draws a line with her writing brush and shows the crew where to build.
Component breakdown
建 = 廴 stride + 聿 writing brush
- 廴 stride
- 聿 writing brush
The architect takes one long stride across the empty lot, draws a line with her writing brush and shows the crew where to build.
How it came to be
A brush held over a path stretching away. Drawing the line of a road before anybody digs it: setting a thing up on paper first is what this character is about.
How it is used
- To build / establish - 建立 (jiànlì) establish, 建设 (jiànshè) construct/development, 建筑 (jiànzhù) architecture/building.
- 建议 (jiànyì) 'to suggest / a suggestion' is very high-frequency: 我建议你早点去 (wǒ jiànyì nǐ zǎodiǎn qù) I suggest you go early.
- 建立 is for abstract things (relationships, systems); 建造/修建 for physical structures.
Characters built with 建
Words with 建
- 建议jiànyìto proposeHSK 4
- 修建xiūjiànto buildHSK 5
- 建立jiànlìto establishHSK 5
- 建筑jiànzhùto constructHSK 5
- 建设jiànshèto buildHSK 5
- 建造jiànzàoto constructHSK 5
- 创建chuàngjiànto foundHSK 6
- 建筑物jiànzhùwùbuildingHSK 6
- 重建chóngjiànto rebuildHSK 6
- 兴建xīngjiànto buildHSK 7
- 基建jījiàncapital construction (project)HSK 7
- 封建fēngjiànsystem of enfeoffmentHSK 7
- 建树jiànshùto make a contributionHSK 7
- 扩建kuòjiànto extendHSK 8
- 搭建dājiànto build (especially with simple materials)HSK 8
- 构建gòujiànto construct (something abstract)HSK 9
- 组建zǔjiànto organizeHSK 9
Example sentences
- 那是我的建议。 Nà shì wǒ de jiànyì.That's my suggestion.
- 木头是很好的建筑材料。 Mùtou shì hěn hǎo de jiànzhù cáiliào.Wood is a very good construction material.
- 他们之间建立了深厚的友谊。 Tāmen zhījiān jiànlìle shēnhòu de yǒuyì.They have developed a deep friendship.