COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 剑 is built
Traditional etymology note: 刂 (knife) suggests the meaning, while 佥 suggests the pronunciation.
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How to Write 剑 (jiàn) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
double-edged sword
jiànTone 4 (Falling)Drop your pitch sharply and firmly.
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STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 9 strokes in the correct order.
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StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
jiàn
剑
double-edged sword
Common words
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
刻舟求剑
lit. a notch on the side of a boat to locate a sword dropped overboard (idiom); fig. an action made pointless by changed circumstances
jiàn
剑
double-edged sword; classifier for blows of a sword
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
剑
剑
剑
剑
剑
剑
剑
剑
LEARNING TIP
Remember 剑
Say “jiàn” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 9 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 剑
Common words and phrases
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
lit. a notch on the side of a boat to locate a sword dropped overboard (idiom); fig. an action made pointless by changed circumstances
jiàn
double-edged sword; classifier for blows of a sword
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 剑?
剑 is written with 9 strokes.
What does 剑 (jiàn) mean?
剑 (jiàn) means double-edged sword.
What is the radical of 剑?
The radical of 剑 is 刂, associated with Not yet classified.