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蒹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蒹jiāncommon reed; Phragmites communisg, 13 strokes, radical 艹
蒹jiānreedunknown, 13 strokes, radical 艹
jiān(jian1) T1
  1. 1common reed; Phragmites communis
  2. 2reed
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蒹jiān(jian1)

The character 蒹 (jiān) refers to a type of tall, slender grass commonly known as common reed, which typically grows in wetlands and along shorelines. It is often associated with natural landscapes and can symbolize resilience and adaptability in Chinese literature and poetry.

Strokes13Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, 蒹 often symbolizes the beauty of nature and the passage of time, as seen in classical works that evoke tranquil riverside scenes. It reflects the deep appreciation of nature in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a group of tall reeds (蒹) swaying gently in the wind by a riverbank. The character's left component, '艹', represents grass, while the right component '兼' resembles two things coming together, just as the reeds grow in clusters. This imagery can help you remember both its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 蒹

jiān(jian1)
1common reed; Phragmites communis
2reed
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蒹

蒹Simplified
13Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蒹

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Podcast: 蒹

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AI Study Notes for 蒹

Usage Notes

蒹 is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as literature or scientific discussions about plants. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure you use the correct tone (first tone) when pronouncing it. It often appears in phrases related to nature or poetry.

HSK Study Tips

While 蒹 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects with themes of nature found in HSK Level 4 materials. Students should focus on recognizing the character in context and related vocabulary about plants and nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 蒹 by using the wrong tone, saying 'jian' (second tone) instead of 'jiān' (first tone). Additionally, mixing it up with similar characters like ‘艹’ (grass) can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蒹

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Etymology of 蒹

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

grass

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)兼
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蒹

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half兼 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaygrass
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 蒹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蒹?

Decomposition of 蒹

IDS Structure⿱艹兼
蒹Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
兼jian1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蒹?

How to say common reed; Phragmites communis in Chinese

“common reed; Phragmites communis” in Chinese is蒹jiān

The character 蒹 (jiān) refers to a type of tall, slender grass commonly known as common reed, which typically grows in wetlands and along shorelines. It is often associated with natural landscapes and can symbolize resilience and adaptability in Chinese literature and poetry.

When to use 蒹

蒹 is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as literature or scientific discussions about plants. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure you use the correct tone (first tone) when pronouncing it. It often appears in phrases related to nature or poetry.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 蒹 by using the wrong tone, saying 'jian' (second tone) instead of 'jiān' (first tone). Additionally, mixing it up with similar characters like ‘艹’ (grass) can lead to confusion.

Write 蒹

蒹

Practice writing 蒹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 蒹

Words Containing This Character1
蒹jiānreed
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蒹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蒹

It refers to common reed, a type of tall grass often found in wetlands.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蒹?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.