Meanings of 監
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About 監
Podcast: 監
Podcast: 監
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AI Study Notes for 監
监 (jiān) vs 察 (chá) — choose 监 when emphasizing supervision or control, while 察 focuses on inspection or observation.
Be careful not to confuse 監 (jiān) with 相 (xiāng), which means 'to see' or 'to regard.' This character is more formal and is commonly used in legal or administrative contexts. Typical collocations include 監督 (jiāndū, to supervise) and 監獄 (jiānyù, prison).
Although 監 (jiān) is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK words related to authority and control, like 管 (guǎn, to manage). Focus on its usage in legal and formal settings to enhance your understanding.
Learners often confuse 監 (jiān) with similar characters like 监 (jiān), which has the same meaning but is a simplified form used in Mainland China. Always double-check the character's form based on your audience.
Pronunciation of 監
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Etymology of 監
Simplified form of 監. Pictograph of a person leaning over to look at his own reflection on a plate.
minister
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 監
Simplified form of 監. Pictograph of a person leaning over to look at his own reflection on a plate.
- 1The meaning half臣 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half皿 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayminister
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 監? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 監
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How to say to supervise, to direct, to control; to inspect; prison, jail in Chinese
“to supervise, to direct, to control; to inspect; prison, jail” in Chinese is監
The character 監 (jiān) primarily means to supervise or to direct. It is commonly used in contexts where oversight or control is required, such as in management roles or law enforcement. Additionally, it can refer to places of confinement, like prisons, highlighting the dual nature of oversight and control.
When to use 監
Be careful not to confuse 監 (jiān) with 相 (xiāng), which means 'to see' or 'to regard.' This character is more formal and is commonly used in legal or administrative contexts. Typical collocations include 監督 (jiāndū, to supervise) and 監獄 (jiānyù, prison).
監 or something close to it
监 (jiān) vs 察 (chá) — choose 监 when emphasizing supervision or control, while 察 focuses on inspection or observation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 監 (jiān) with similar characters like 监 (jiān), which has the same meaning but is a simplified form used in Mainland China. Always double-check the character's form based on your audience.
Write 監
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Practice writing 監 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 監
Compound Meaning
What does 监狱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 監
While 監 (jiān) refers to the act of supervising, 監督 (jiāndū) specifically means 'to oversee' or 'to ensure compliance,' often used in formal or legal contexts.
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