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March 24, 2026
鉴(鋻)jiàn(jian4)
The character 鉴 (jiàn) primarily means 'mirror' or 'reflection.' It can refer to both a physical mirror and the act of reflecting on something, such as an idea or experience. This character is often used in contexts involving inspection, evaluation, or warning, highlighting its metaphorical use in reflecting on past actions or decisions.
Strokes13Radical金Frequency#9246DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, mirrors (鉴) have historical significance, often used in literature and philosophy to symbolize self-reflection and moral evaluation. This is evident in classic texts where characters use mirrors to gain insights into their virtues or flaws.
Memory Tip
Imagine looking into a shiny mirror (鉴) that not only shows your reflection but also allows you to reflect on your past actions. The character has a key component that resembles an eye (见), suggesting seeing or viewing, thus linking it to its meaning of inspection and reflection.
Meanings of 鉴
jiàn(jian4)
1example
2mirror
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鉴
鉴Simplified
鋻Traditional
13Strokes
金Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#9246Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 鉴
Podcast: 鉴
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AI Study Notes for 鉴
Quick Contrast
鉴 (jiàn) vs 观 (guān) — use 鉴 when emphasizing reflection or evaluation, while 观 focuses on observation or viewing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine looking into a shiny mirror (鉴) that not only shows your reflection but also allows you to reflect on your past actions. The character has a key component that resembles an eye (见), suggesting seeing or viewing, thus linking it to its meaning of inspection and reflection.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 鉴 (jiàn), as it differs from similar-sounding characters. It's often used in formal contexts, such as literature or discussions about ethics. Common collocations include '鉴别' (to identify) and '鉴赏' (to appreciate).
HSK Study Tips
Although 鉴 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with words at HSK Level 4 and above that involve inspection or evaluation, such as 观察 (to observe) and 评价 (to evaluate). Focus on its usage in formal writing and discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, mirrors (鉴) have historical significance, often used in literature and philosophy to symbolize self-reflection and moral evaluation. This is evident in classic texts where characters use mirrors to gain insights into their virtues or flaws.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鉴 (jiàn) with similar characters like 见 (jiàn), which means 'to see.' For example, saying '我用见看' (I use to see to look) instead of '我用鉴看' (I use the mirror to look) is incorrect. Always ensure you use the correct character based on its meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鉴
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Grammar Patterns of 鉴
鉴 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 11 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He explained to the Council , at the same time extending the note for leremia to examine.
Cultural Notes for 鉴
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, mirrors (鉴) have historical significance, often used in literature and philosophy to symbolize self-reflection and moral evaluation. This is evident in classic texts where characters use mirrors to gain insights into their virtues or flaws.
Word Family of 鉴
Words Containing This Character20
鉴定jiàndìngto appraise鑑定
鉴于jiànyúin view of鑒於
借鉴jièjiànto draw on (others' experience)借鑒
鉴jiànexample鑑
鉴别jiànbiéto differentiate鑑別
年鉴yearbook年鑑
有鉴于此in view of this有鑒於此
鉴赏jiànshǎngto appreciate鑑賞
前车之鉴to learn a lesson from the mistakes of one's predecessor (idiom)前車之鑒
亲子鉴定paternity or maternity test親子鑒定
印鉴stamp印鑒
鉴赏家connoisseur鑒賞家
品鉴to judge品鑒
资治通鉴A Mirror for the Wise Ruler (or Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government), a vast chronological general history, written by 司馬光|司马光[SīmǎGuāng] Sima Guang (1019-1089) and collaborators during the Northern Song in 1084, covering the period 403 BC-959 AD資治通鑒
鉴真Jianzhen or Ganjin (688-763), Tang dynastic Buddhist monk, who crossed to Japan after several unsuccessful attempts, influential in Japanese Buddhism鑒真
图鉴illustrated handbook圖鑒
评鉴evaluation評鑒
赏鉴to appreciate (a work of art)賞鑒
油光可鉴lustrous油光可鑒
鉴往知来to observe the past to foresee the future (idiom, taken loosely from Book of Songs); studying ancient wisdom gives insight into what is to come鑒往知來
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鉴定 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鉴
It is pronounced as 'jiàn' with a falling tone.
Yes, while it is more formal, it can be used in conversations about evaluating or reflecting on experiences.
Common phrases include '鉴赏' (to appreciate) and '鉴别' (to identify).
