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March 24, 2026
舰(艦)jiàn(jian4)
The character '舰' (jiàn) refers specifically to a type of warship, typically a large naval vessel designed for combat. It is commonly used in military contexts and discussions related to naval power and defense. The term can also be found in various compound words related to naval terminology.
Strokes10Radical舟Frequency#4742DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
'舰' is often associated with China's growing naval capabilities and the emphasis on maritime power in contemporary Chinese military strategy. It reflects the importance of naval defense in China's historical and current geopolitics.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant ship (舰) sailing through the ocean, with a 'jiant' (giant) cannon on board ready for battle. The character '舰' has the radical for 'ship' (舟) at the bottom, reinforcing the idea of a vessel, while the top part can be remembered as a 'giant' structure, making it easier to connect the shape to its meaning.
Meanings of 舰
jiàn(jian4)
1warship
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 舰
舰Simplified
艦Traditional
10Strokes
舟Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#4742Frequency Rank
Podcast: 舰
Podcast: 舰
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AI Study Notes for 舰
Quick Contrast
舰 (warship) vs 船 (ship) — use 船 for general vessels, while 舰 specifically refers to military warships.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant ship (舰) sailing through the ocean, with a 'jiant' (giant) cannon on board ready for battle. The character '舰' has the radical for 'ship' (舟) at the bottom, reinforcing the idea of a vessel, while the top part can be remembered as a 'giant' structure, making it easier to connect the shape to its meaning.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse '舰' (jiàn) with '船' (chuán), which means 'boat' or 'ship' in general. '舰' is more formal and specific to military contexts, so it’s best used in discussions about naval forces. Be careful with the tone; '舰' is pronounced with a falling tone which is crucial to its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Though '舰' is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other words related to transportation and military terms at higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing it in context and learning related terms like '军舰' (jūnjiàn), which means 'warship'.
Cultural Note
'舰' is often associated with China's growing naval capabilities and the emphasis on maritime power in contemporary Chinese military strategy. It reflects the importance of naval defense in China's historical and current geopolitics.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to use '舰' when discussing civilian ships, as in '我坐一艘舰去旅行' (I took a warship to travel), which should be corrected to '我坐一艘船去旅行' (I took a boat to travel). Ensure you use '舰' in military contexts only.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 舰
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Grammar Patterns of 舰
舰 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
你被任命为皇家海军____艇“鞑靼人”号的皇家海军志愿后备队中尉。
You are hereby appointed Sub-Lieutenant RNVR of HMS Tartar.
Example Sentences for 舰 (10)
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1
你被任命为皇家海军舰艇“鞑靼人”号的皇家海军志愿后备队中尉。
nǐ bèi rèn mìng wéi huáng jiā hǎi jūn jiàn tǐng“ “ dá dá” rén ” hào de huáng jiā hǎi jūn zhì yuàn hòu bèi duì。
You are hereby appointed Sub-Lieutenant RNVR of HMS Tartar.
He is adding three aircraft carriers—that makes six in all.
Cultural Notes for 舰
🏮Cultural insight
'舰' is often associated with China's growing naval capabilities and the emphasis on maritime power in contemporary Chinese military strategy. It reflects the importance of naval defense in China's historical and current geopolitics.
Word Family of 舰
Words Containing This Character20
舰jiànwarship艦
舰队fleet艦隊
战舰battleship戰艦
旗舰flagship旗艦
舰长commander艦長
军舰jūnjiànwarship軍艦
舰艇jiàntǐngwarship艦艇
驱逐舰destroyer (warship)驅逐艦
航空母舰aircraft carrier航空母艦
舰船warship艦船
巡洋舰cruiser (warship)巡洋艦
护卫舰corvette護衛艦
战列舰battleship戰列艦
舰只warship艦隻
反舰导弹anti-ship missile反艦導彈
舰载机carrier-based aircraft艦載機
舰载ship-based艦載
舰桥bridge艦橋
运输舰transport ship運輸艦
炮舰gunboat砲艦
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 舰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 舰
'舰' specifically refers to a warship, while '船' is a more general term for any kind of boat or ship.
'舰' is pronounced 'jiàn' with a falling tone, which is important for conveying its meaning.
It's best suited for formal or military contexts, so using it in casual conversation about ships might sound out of place.
