建
Character learning workspace

jiàn · to build, to erect

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 5Frequency #1679
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 建

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 建 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

8Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Lower-left enclosureCharacter structure

Keep the outer frame stable without crowding the enclosed strokes.

廴Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 建 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 建

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

jiànWords pronounced jiàn
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Example sentences

Notice where 建 sits in each complete thought.

Tā gěi le wǒ yí gè hǎo jiàn yì.他给了我一个好建议。

He gave me a good piece of advice.

Source: Tatoeba #828816 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ de xiǎng fǎ hěn yǒu jiàn shè xìng.你的想法很有建设性。

Your opinion is very constructive.

Source: Tatoeba #1529534 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ jiàn zào le zhège gěi nǐ de.我建造了这个给你的。

I built this for you.

Source: Tatoeba #10668574 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Qǐng zài jiàn zhù de rù kǒu chù děng wǒ.请在建筑的入口处等我。

Please wait for me at the entrance of the building.

Source: Tatoeba #1426560 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yì tiáo xīn de mǎ lù zhèng zài xiū jiàn zhōng.一条新的马路正在修建中。

A new road is under construction.

Source: Tatoeba #623219 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tāng mǔ shì jiàn yì wǒ mǎi zhège de rén.汤姆是建议我买这个的人。

Tom was the one who suggested that I buy this.

Source: Tatoeba #9956667 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 建 in context

  1. Say jiàn, then recall the core meaning: to build, to erect.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the lower-left enclosure balanced.
  3. Use it in 建议 (jiàn yì), meaning “to propose”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 建 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.