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槛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
槛jiànthreshold, door frameHSK 7, zg, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛jiànbanisterHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛jiàndoor sillHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛jiànbalustradeHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛jiàncage for animal or prisonerHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛jiànto transport caged prisoner on a cartHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛kǎnthreshold, door frameHSK 7, zg, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛kǎnbanisterHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛kǎndoor sillHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛kǎnbalustradeHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛kǎncage for animal or prisonerHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛kǎnto transport caged prisoner on a cartHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
jiàn(jian4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1threshold, door frame
  2. 2banister
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
槛(檻)jiàn(jian4)

The character 槛 (jiàn) primarily refers to a threshold or door frame, often implying a boundary or transition point. It can also denote more specific meanings like a banister or the cage used for transporting prisoners, indicating both physical and metaphorical barriers.

Strokes14Radical木Frequency#49255DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of thresholds often symbolizes significant life transitions, such as marriage or entering a new stage in life, making this character relevant in various cultural contexts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant door frame made of wood, where a prisoner is sitting inside a cage. The door frame (槛) represents the boundary between freedom and confinement, helping you remember that 'jiàn' sounds a bit like 'jam', as in being jammed in a confined space.

Meanings of 槛

jiàn(jian4)
primary
1threshold, door frame
2banister
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 槛

槛Simplified
檻Traditional
14Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 槛

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Podcast: 槛

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AI Study Notes for 槛

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant door frame made of wood, where a prisoner is sitting inside a cage. The door frame (槛) represents the boundary between freedom and confinement, helping you remember that 'jiàn' sounds a bit like 'jam', as in being jammed in a confined space.

Usage Notes

It's important to use 槛 in contexts related to physical structures or boundaries, as using it metaphorically could lead to confusion. Be careful with the tone; 'jiàn' is pronounced with a falling tone, which can be mixed up with other similar-sounding words if not pronounced correctly.

HSK Study Tips

Since 槛 is not in the official HSK levels, learners should focus on understanding its broader meanings and contexts. Relating it to other words like 门 (mén, door) and 框 (kuāng, frame) may help solidify its usage and connection to everyday objects.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of thresholds often symbolizes significant life transitions, such as marriage or entering a new stage in life, making this character relevant in various cultural contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 槛 with similar-sounding words like 见 (jiàn, see) or 剪 (jiǎn, cut), leading to incorrect interpretations. It's crucial to remember that 槛 specifically relates to physical boundaries or confinement.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 槛

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Etymology of 槛

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 檻.

Memory Hint

wood

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 槛?

Decomposition of 槛

IDS Structure⿰木监
槛Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
监jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 槛?

Write 槛

槛

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 槛

槛 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

随着福尔多的最后一杆轻击，球应声入洞，他得以跻身门____颇高的顶级运动员之列。

As Faldo's final putt rattled in, he qualified to join a select band of illustrious sportsmen.

Example Sentences for 槛 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
随着福尔多的最后一杆轻击，球应声入洞，他得以跻身门槛颇高的顶级运动员之列。

suí zháo fú ěr duō de zuì hòu yī gān qīng jī， ， qiú yīng shēng rù， dòng ， tā dé yǐ jī shēn mén jiàn pō gāo de dǐng jí yùn dòng yuán。

As Faldo's final putt rattled in, he qualified to join a select band of illustrious sportsmen.

Cultural Notes for 槛

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of thresholds often symbolizes significant life transitions, such as marriage or entering a new stage in life, making this character relevant in various cultural contexts.

Word Family of 槛

Words Containing This Character3
门槛ménkǎndoorstep門檻
槛jiàndoor sill檻
下槛doorsill下檻
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 门槛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 槛

While there aren't many idiomatic expressions with 槛, you might encounter it in discussions about architecture or legal contexts related to imprisonment.