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槛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
槛
jiàn
threshold, door frame
HSK 7, zg, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
jiàn
banister
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
jiàn
door sill
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
jiàn
balustrade
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
jiàn
cage for animal or prisoner
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
jiàn
to transport caged prisoner on a cart
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
kǎn
threshold, door frame
HSK 7, zg, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
kǎn
banister
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
kǎn
door sill
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
kǎn
balustrade
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
kǎn
cage for animal or prisoner
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
槛
kǎn
to transport caged prisoner on a cart
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #49255, Very Hard
jiàn(jian4)jian
primary
T4
1threshold, door frame
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 槛 means.
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
Podcast: 槛
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AI Study Notes for 槛
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.
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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How Well Do You Know 槛?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 槛 is seven skills, not one.
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.
槛 = 木 + 监. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 槛
IDS Structure⿰木监
槛Full character
=
木Mu4
left
监jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 槛?
How to say threshold, door frame in Chinese
“threshold, door frame” in Chinese is槛jiàn
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.
When to use 槛
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 槛
槛
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Practice writing 槛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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)
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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。
suízhe fú ěr duō de zuìhòu yī gǎn qīng jī， qiú yìng shēng rù dòng， tā déyǐ jīshēn ménkǎn Pō gāo de dǐngjí yùndòngyuán zhī liè。
As Faldo's final putt rattled in, he qualified to join a select band of illustrious sportsmen.
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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 2
Words with 槛
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.
Yes, but primarily in formal or literary contexts. In casual conversation, you might hear more common words for door frames or thresholds.
You can think of 'jiàn' as 'jammed in', associating the sound with being stuck at a threshold.
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