堅 meaning and stroke order
Hard, strong; firm, resolute
How to write 堅, stroke by stroke
11 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
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Meaning of 堅
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- strong
- solid
- firm
- unyielding
- resolute
How 堅 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A stern 臤 fortification 土; 臤 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 土 (soil), shared by 183 characters on this site.
How to remember 堅
Picture a stern 臤 guard standing on top of earth 土 walls. A fortification built from packed earth and guarded by someone stern is hard and firm, so 堅 (jiān) means solid and resolute. The 臤 part also hints at the sound.
堅 is the traditional form of 坚, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It rarely stands alone and mostly appears in two-character words like 堅持 (jiānchí) and 堅強 (jiānqiáng). Example: 他每天堅持跑步。(Tā měitiān jiānchí pǎobù.) He keeps up running every day.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 堅 with 緊 (jǐn, tight), because both share the top part 臤. Remember that 堅 has earth 土 at the bottom for solid ground, while 緊 has silk 糸 for something tied tight. Also keep the first tone in jiān.
Common words with 堅
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 堅持 | jiānchí | to persevere with; to persist in | HSK 3 |
| 堅強 | jiānqiáng | staunch; strong | HSK 3 |
| 堅決 | jiānjué | firm; resolute; determined | HSK 3 |
| 堅固 | jiāngù | firm; firmly | HSK 4 |
| 堅定 | jiāndìng | firm; steady | HSK 5 |
| 堅信 | jiānxìn | to believe firmly; without any doubt | HSK 7-9 |
| 堅守 | jiānshǒu | to hold fast to; to stick to | HSK 7-9 |
| 堅硬 | jiānyìng | hard; solid | HSK 7-9 |
| 堅韌 | jiānrèn | tough and durable; tenacious | HSK 7-9 |
| 堅實 | jiānshí | firm and substantial; solid | HSK 7-9 |
| 堅持不懈 | jiānchí-bùxiè | (idiom) to persevere unremittingly; to keep going until the end | HSK 7-9 |
| 堅果 | jiānguǒ | nut | |
| 堅持下去 | jiānchíxiàqù | to press on | |
| 堅不可摧 | jiānbùkěcuī | (idiom) invulnerable; indestructible; impregnable |
Questions about 堅
How many strokes are in 堅?
堅 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 堅 mean?
堅 (jiān) means hard, strong; firm, resolute. A common word with it is 坚持 (jiānchí), meaning "to persevere with; to persist in".
How do you pronounce 堅?
堅 is pronounced jiān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 堅?
The radical of 堅 is 土, which carries the idea of "soil". Dictionaries list 堅 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 堅?
堅 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 坚, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 堅決 and 堅定?
堅決 (jiānjué) stresses a firm decision or attitude in action, as in 堅決反對 (firmly oppose). 堅定 (jiāndìng) describes steady belief or will, as in 堅定的信心 (unshakable confidence).
Can 堅 describe physical hardness as well as character?
Yes. 堅硬 (jiānyìng) and 堅固 (jiāngù) describe hard or sturdy objects like rock or buildings. 堅強 (jiānqiáng) and 堅定 describe a strong, determined person.