Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
儉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
儉jiǎntemperate, frugal, economicalzg, 15 strokes, radical 亻
jiǎn(jian3)jian T3
  1. 1temperate, frugal, economical
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

儉jiǎn(jian3)

The character 儉 (jiǎn) means temperate, frugal, or economical, referring to a lifestyle or behavior that avoids excess and emphasizes moderation. It is often used in contexts related to spending, resource management, and personal habits, highlighting the value of simplicity and prudence in one's choices.

Strokes15Radical亻
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the value of frugality is deeply rooted in Confucian teachings, which emphasize modesty and the importance of managing resources wisely. This character can often be found in discussions about sustainable living and the moral implications of consumption.

Memory tip

Imagine a frugal monk (representing the meaning of 儉) holding a single rice grain (the character's components). The left part '亻' signifies a person, while the right part '兼' suggests combining or sharing resources. Picture the monk teaching others to appreciate the simplicity of life by consuming just one grain.

Meanings of 儉

jiǎn(jian3)
1temperate, frugal, economical
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 儉 means.

About 儉

儉Simplified
15Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 儉

JasonAmy

Podcast: 儉

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 儉

Quick Contrast

节俭 (jiéjiǎn) vs. 节省 (jiéshěng) — use 儉 (jiǎn) when emphasizing a frugal lifestyle, while 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) focuses more on careful management of resources.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 儉 with similar-sounding words like 简 (jiǎn, meaning simple), which can lead to incorrect context usage. 儉 is more formal and typically appears in literary or philosophical texts, while more casual terms for frugality may be used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (3rd tone).

HSK Study Tips

While 儉 is not part of the standard HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to economics and personal finance, which may appear in higher levels. Students should focus on understanding the nuances of frugality and moderation in various contexts, linking it to concepts of saving and resourcefulness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 儉 as jián, which is incorrect. Remember to use the correct 3rd tone (jiǎn) to convey the intended meaning of frugality.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 儉

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 儉 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 儉 to you

Let me explain 儉 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 儉 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 儉?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 儉 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 儉

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 佥 represents the sound. Simplified form of 儉.

Memory hint

person

Semantic (meaning)亻
+
Phonetic (sound)僉
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

儉 = 亻 + 僉. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 儉

IDS Structure⿰亻僉
儉Full character
=
亻ren2
left
僉qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 儉?

How to say temperate, frugal, economical in Chinese

“temperate, frugal, economical” in Chinese is儉jiǎn

The character 儉 (jiǎn) means temperate, frugal, or economical, referring to a lifestyle or behavior that avoids excess and emphasizes moderation. It is often used in contexts related to spending, resource management, and personal habits, highlighting the value of simplicity and prudence in one's choices.

When to use 儉

Common mistakes include confusing 儉 with similar-sounding words like 简 (jiǎn, meaning simple), which can lead to incorrect context usage. 儉 is more formal and typically appears in literary or philosophical texts, while more casual terms for frugality may be used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (3rd tone).

儉 or something close to it

节俭 (jiéjiǎn) vs. 节省 (jiéshěng) — use 儉 (jiǎn) when emphasizing a frugal lifestyle, while 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) focuses more on careful management of resources.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 儉 as jián, which is incorrect. Remember to use the correct 3rd tone (jiǎn) to convey the intended meaning of frugality.

Write 儉

儉

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 儉?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 儉

Words containing this character13
节俭jiéjiǎnfrugal節儉
勤俭qínjiǎnhardworking and frugal勤儉
省吃俭用to live frugally省吃儉用
勤工俭学qíngōngjiǎnxuéwork-study program勤工儉學
俭jiǎnfrugal儉
俭省thrifty儉省
勤俭持家hardworking and thrifty in running one's household勤儉持家
勤俭节约diligent and thrifty (idiom)勤儉節約
俭朴plain and unadorned儉朴
勤俭建国to build up the country through thrift and hard work (idiom)勤儉建國
克勤克俭to be industrious and frugal (idiom)克勤克儉
温良恭俭让kindhearted and moderate (idiom); temperate and gentle溫良恭儉讓
省俭frugal省儉
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 儉

What does 节俭 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 儉

Yes, 儉 is typically found in more formal or literary contexts, while everyday conversations might use simpler terms.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 儉?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab