监
Character learning workspace

jiān / jiàn · to supervise, to direct, to control

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

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 监

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
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

监 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

jiān

to supervise; to inspect; jail

监测jiān cè · to monitor
jiàn

(bound form) supervisor; supervisory office (in imperial China)

太监tài jiàn · court eunuch
Step-by-step explorer

See how 监 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

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

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

皿Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 监 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 监

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

jiānto supervise; to inspect; jail
jiàn(bound form) supervisor; supervisory office (in imperial China)
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 监 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ bǎ zì jǐ dàngchéng nǐ de jiān hù rén.我把自己当成你的监护人。

I regard myself as your guardian.

Source: Tatoeba #2029453 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tāng mǔ méi yǒu zhù yì dào jiān kòng shè xiàng tóu.汤姆没有注意到监控摄像头。

Tom didn't notice the surveillance camera.

Source: Tatoeba #9959718 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yǒu rén zài jiān shì.有人在监视。

Someone is watching.

Source: Tatoeba #5091339 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ zài jiān yù lǐ dāi le duō jiǔ?你在监狱里呆了多久?

How long were you in jail?

Source: Tatoeba #5660519 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Dān de jiā tíng diàn huà bèi jǐng chá jiān tīng le.丹的家庭电话被警察监听了。

Dan's home phone was tapped by police.

Source: Tatoeba #5581823 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zài jiān shì zhe.他在监视着。

He is keeping an eye out.

Source: Tatoeba #787271 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 监 in context

  1. Say jiān / jiàn, then recall the core meaning: to supervise, to direct, to control.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 监测 (jiān cè), meaning “to monitor”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 监 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.