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搛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
搛jiānto pick up with chopsticksv, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #75781, Very Hard
jiān(jian1) T1
  1. 1to pick up with chopsticks
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March 24, 2026

搛jiān(jian1)

The verb 搛 (jiān) means to pick up food using chopsticks. It is commonly used in dining contexts when discussing how to eat or serve food, particularly in Chinese culture where chopsticks are the primary utensils. This word emphasizes the action of using chopsticks, which is a skill in itself.

Strokes13Radical扌Frequency#75781DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Chopsticks are central to Chinese dining etiquette, and knowing how to use them properly is a sign of cultural sophistication. The verb 搛 highlights the importance of chopsticks in everyday life and social dining settings in China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of chopsticks (the character's components) grasping a delicious piece of food. The sound 'jiān' can be remembered by thinking of 'jabbing' with chopsticks to pick something up, creating a vivid image of this action.

Meanings of 搛

jiān(jian1)
1to pick up with chopsticks
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 搛

搛Simplified
13Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 搛

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Podcast: 搛

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AI Study Notes for 搛

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 搛 (jiān) with other similar verbs like 拿 (ná), which means to take or hold something without specifying the use of chopsticks. It's commonly used in both formal and informal settings, especially during meals. Make sure to practice the correct tone, as it is easy to mispronounce.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the official HSK levels, this word can be connected to basic vocabulary around food and dining, which is essential for beginners. Focus on practicing this word in context, especially when learning phrases related to eating.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 搛 (jiān) with other verbs like 抓 (zhuā), which means to grab or catch. A common mistake is saying '我抓这个菜' instead of '我搛这个菜' when referring to picking up food with chopsticks.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 搛

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Etymology of 搛

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To grip 扌with chopsticks 兼; 兼 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 搛

  1. 1The giveawayTo grip 扌with chopsticks 兼; 兼 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 搛? 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 搛?

Decomposition of 搛

IDS Structure⿰扌兼
搛Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
兼jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 搛?

How to say to pick up with chopsticks in Chinese

“to pick up with chopsticks” in Chinese is搛jiān

The verb 搛 (jiān) means to pick up food using chopsticks. It is commonly used in dining contexts when discussing how to eat or serve food, particularly in Chinese culture where chopsticks are the primary utensils. This word emphasizes the action of using chopsticks, which is a skill in itself.

When to use 搛

Be careful not to confuse 搛 (jiān) with other similar verbs like 拿 (ná), which means to take or hold something without specifying the use of chopsticks. It's commonly used in both formal and informal settings, especially during meals. Make sure to practice the correct tone, as it is easy to mispronounce.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 搛 (jiān) with other verbs like 抓 (zhuā), which means to grab or catch. A common mistake is saying '我抓这个菜' instead of '我搛这个菜' when referring to picking up food with chopsticks.

Write 搛

搛

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

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Word Family of 搛

Words Containing This Character1
搛jiānto pick up with chopsticks
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 搛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 搛

You can use it in a sentence like '我用筷子搛这个菜' (I use chopsticks to pick up this dish).

Jason Recommends

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