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笕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笕jiǎnbamboo water pipeg, 10 strokes, radical ⺮
笕jiǎnbamboo conduitunknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺮
笕jiǎnwater pipe of bamboounknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺮
jiǎn(jian3) T3
  1. 1bamboo water pipe
  2. 2bamboo conduit
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

笕(筧)jiǎn(jian3)

The character 笕 (jiǎn) refers to a bamboo water pipe or conduit, typically used for transporting water. This term is often associated with traditional Chinese irrigation systems, where bamboo was a common material for constructing pipes due to its lightweight and durable nature.

Strokes10Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In rural China, bamboo is often used in sustainable practices, such as creating irrigation systems, which highlights the ingenuity of traditional agricultural methods and the significance of bamboo in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bamboo stalk (the radical bamboo, bamboo is 笔) that has been hollowed out to create a water pipe. Visualize water flowing through this bamboo pipe, which helps you remember both the shape and the sound of the character 笕 as 'jiǎn'.

Meanings of 笕

jiǎn(jian3)
1bamboo water pipe
2bamboo conduit
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 笕

笕Simplified
筧Traditional
10Strokes
⺮Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 笕

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Podcast: 笕

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AI Study Notes for 笕

Usage Notes

Learners might confuse 笕 with other bamboo-related characters. It is primarily used in agricultural contexts or discussions about traditional Chinese construction. Be careful with the tone; the third tone (jiǎn) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with other meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 笕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for HSK level 3 and above learners interested in environmental or agricultural topics. Focus on recognizing the bamboo radical and related terms to expand your vocabulary in this area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 笕 with similar characters like 笔 (bǐ), which means 'pen'. Always remember that 笕 specifically refers to a water pipe made of bamboo, while 笔 relates to writing instruments.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笕

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Etymology of 笕

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

bamboo

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 笕

  1. 1The meaning half⺮ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half见 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybamboo
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 笕? 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 笕?

Decomposition of 笕

IDS Structure⿱⺮见
笕Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
见jian4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 笕?

How to say bamboo water pipe in Chinese

“bamboo water pipe” in Chinese is笕jiǎn

The character 笕 (jiǎn) refers to a bamboo water pipe or conduit, typically used for transporting water. This term is often associated with traditional Chinese irrigation systems, where bamboo was a common material for constructing pipes due to its lightweight and durable nature.

When to use 笕

Learners might confuse 笕 with other bamboo-related characters. It is primarily used in agricultural contexts or discussions about traditional Chinese construction. Be careful with the tone; the third tone (jiǎn) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with other meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 笕 with similar characters like 笔 (bǐ), which means 'pen'. Always remember that 笕 specifically refers to a water pipe made of bamboo, while 笔 relates to writing instruments.

Write 笕

笕

Practice writing 笕 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 笕

Words Containing This Character1
笕jiǎnbamboo conduit筧
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 笕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 笕

Bamboo symbolizes resilience and flexibility in Chinese culture, often representing strength and endurance.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 笕?

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.