件 meaning and stroke order
Item; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etc
How to write 件, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 件
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- item
- component
- classifier for events, things, clothes etc
How 件 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A man 亻 dividing up a cow 牛.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 件
件 shows a person 亻 next to a cow 牛, an image of a man dividing up a cow into separate pieces. Each piece is one item, which is why 件 counts individual things.
件 (jiàn) is a very common measure word for clothes on the upper body, matters, and events, and it also appears in many nouns like 文件 (wénjiàn) document and 软件 (ruǎnjiàn) software. Example: 我有一件事想问你。(Wǒ yǒu yí jiàn shì xiǎng wèn nǐ.) I have something I want to ask you.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 件 with 伴 (bàn, companion), which also has 亻 but uses 半 on the right instead of 牛. Another trap is using 件 for trousers. Pants take 条 (tiáo), as in 一条裤子, while shirts and jackets take 件, as in 一件衬衫.
Common words with 件
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 条件 | tiáojiàn | condition; circumstance; term; factor; requirement; prerequisite; qualification | HSK 2 |
| 事件 | shìjiàn | incident; event | HSK 3 |
| 文件 | wénjiàn | document; file | HSK 3 |
| 邮件 | yóujiàn | mail; post | HSK 3 |
| 证件 | zhèngjiàn | certificate; papers; credentials; document; ID | HSK 3 |
| 电子邮件 | diànzǐ yóujiàn | HSK 3 | |
| 软件 | ruǎnjiàn | software | HSK 5 |
| 硬件 | yìngjiàn | hardware | HSK 5 |
| 附件 | fùjiàn | appendix (in a document); enclosure (accompanying a document) | HSK 5 |
| 案件 | ànjiàn | case; instance | HSK 7-9 |
| 信件 | xìnjiàn | letter (sent by mail) | HSK 7-9 |
| 零件 | língjiàn | part; component | HSK 7-9 |
| 无条件 | wútiáojiàn | unconditional | HSK 7-9 |
| 部件 | bùjiàn | part; component | HSK 7-9 |
件 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 件
How many strokes are in 件?
件 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 件 mean?
件 (jiàn) means item; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etc. A common word with it is 条件 (tiáojiàn), meaning "condition; circumstance; term; factor; requirement; prerequisite; qualification".
How do you pronounce 件?
件 is pronounced jiàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 件?
The radical of 件 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 件 under this radical.
Is 件 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 件 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
Can 件 be used to count any kind of thing?
No. 件 is used for upper-body clothing, luggage, gifts, furniture, and abstract matters like 事 (shì) or 事情. Long thin things use 条, flat things use 张, and general objects often use 个.
What is the difference between 事件 and 事情?
事情 (shìqing) is an everyday word for any matter or thing to do. 事件 (shìjiàn) means a notable incident or event, often something reported in the news or of historical importance.