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March 24, 2026
健康jiànkāng(jian4kang1)
健康 (jiànkāng) refers to the state of being free from illness or injury, encompassing both physical and mental well-being. It is commonly used in contexts related to fitness, nutrition, and overall lifestyle, emphasizing a holistic approach to health.
Strokes21Frequency#1317DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, health is often linked to traditional practices such as Tai Chi, acupuncture, and herbal medicine, which emphasize balance and harmony in maintaining well-being. Festivals like the Spring Festival also focus on health wishes for the new year.
Memory Tip
Think of 健 (jiàn) as a strong man lifting weights, representing strength, and 康 (kāng) as a healthy plant thriving in sunlight. Together, they depict the idea of robust health that is flourishing and vibrant.
Meanings of 健康
jiànkāng(jian4kang1)
1health
2healthy
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About 健康
健康Simplified
21Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1317Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 健康
Podcast: 健康
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AI Study Notes for 健康
Quick Contrast
健康 (jiànkāng) vs 安康 (ānkāng) — use 健康 for general health, while 安康 emphasizes peace and safety in health.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tones; 健 (jiàn) is pronounced with a falling tone while 康 (kāng) has a high and level tone. It is often used in phrases like '保持健康' (bǎochí jiànkāng) which means 'maintain health.' Avoid using it in overly formal contexts; it’s more suitable for everyday conversations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 健康 connects well with other health-related vocabulary such as 病 (bìng, illness) and 医生 (yīshēng, doctor). Students should practice using it in sentences to describe their own health or lifestyle choices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 健康 with the similar-sounding 见康 (jiànkāng), which is incorrect. Always remember to use 健康 for health-related discussions.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 健康
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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.
健康 (jiànkāng) refers to the state of being free from illness or injury, encompassing both physical and mental well-being. It is commonly used in contexts related to fitness, nutrition, and overall lifestyle, emphasizing a holistic approach to health.
When to use 健康
Be cautious with the tones; 健 (jiàn) is pronounced with a falling tone while 康 (kāng) has a high and level tone. It is often used in phrases like '保持健康' (bǎochí jiànkāng) which means 'maintain health.' Avoid using it in overly formal contexts; it’s more suitable for everyday conversations.
健康 or something close to it
健康 (jiànkāng) vs 安康 (ānkāng) — use 健康 for general health, while 安康 emphasizes peace and safety in health.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 健康 with the similar-sounding 见康 (jiànkāng), which is incorrect. Always remember to use 健康 for health-related discussions.
Write 健康
健
康
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Grammar Patterns of 健康
健康 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Eating more fruits and vegetables is good for your health.
13
他每天都跑步，所以身体很健康。
Tā měitiān dōu pǎobù, suǒyǐ shēntǐ hěn jiànkāng.
He runs every day, so he is very healthy.
14
保持良好的睡眠习惯可以让你更健康。
Bǎochí liánghǎo de shuìmián xíguàn kěyǐ ràng nǐ gèng jiànkāng.
Maintaining good sleep habits can make you healthier.
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Cultural Notes for 健康
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While both Chinese and Western cultures value health, Chinese culture often emphasizes balance, harmony, and preventative practices, whereas Western approaches may focus more on medical interventions and technology.
Frequently Asked Questions about 健康
'我想要健康' (Wǒ xiǎng yào jiànkāng).
Yes, 健康 encompasses both physical and mental health.
Common phrases include '健康饮食' (healthy diet) and '健康检查' (health checkup).
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