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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The character (jiān) primarily describes something that is sharp, pointed, or acute in shape or quality. It is often used to describe physical objects like knife tips or needles, but also abstract qualities such as a sharp voice or acute difficulty.

Common Collocations

  • (dāo jiān): knife tip, emphasizes the very end of a blade.
  • 尖锐 (jiānruì): sharp, acute, often used for sharp pain, criticism, or difficulty.
  • (jiān xì): sharp and thin, often describing sounds or voices.

Usage Notes

When using to describe sounds or abstract qualities, it often conveys a sense of sharpness or intensity that stands out. It is more formal and precise than simply saying 'sharp' and is common in written and spoken Mandarin at higher levels.

Avoid confusing with 锋利 (fēnglì), which also means sharp but is more commonly used for cutting edges. focuses more on the pointed shape or acute nature rather than just cutting ability.

Example Sentences

The tip of this knife is very sharp, be careful when using it.

His voice is sharp and thin, it sounds very distinctive.

The difficulty of this exam is very acute, many students find it hard.