撿 meaning and stroke order
To pick up, to gather, to collect
How to write 撿, stroke by stroke
16 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 撿
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to pick up; to collect; to gather
How 撿 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 僉 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 撿
The hand radical 扌 on the left shows you are using your hand, and 僉 (qiān) on the right gives the sound. Picture a hand reaching down to pick something up off the ground.
撿 (jiǎn) is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong for picking things up, usually small objects from the ground. It often appears in phrases like 撿起來 (jiǎn qǐlái, pick up) and 撿到 (jiǎn dào, find by chance). Example: 我在路上撿到一個錢包。(Wǒ zài lù shang jiǎn dào yí ge qiánbāo.) I found a wallet on the street.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 撿 with 檢 (jiǎn, to check), 險 (xiǎn, danger) and 臉 (liǎn, face), which share the 僉 part. Only 撿 has the hand radical 扌, so it is the one for picking things up with your hand.
Questions about 撿
How many strokes are in 撿?
撿 is written with 16 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 撿 mean?
撿 (jiǎn) means to pick up, to gather, to collect.
How do you pronounce 撿?
撿 is pronounced jiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 撿?
The radical of 撿 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 撿 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 撿?
撿 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 捡, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 撿 and 拾?
Both mean to pick up. 撿 is the everyday spoken word, while 拾 (shí) sounds more formal or written, as in 拾金不昧 (shí jīn bú mèi, to return lost money). They can also combine as 撿拾 (jiǎnshí).
What does 撿便宜 mean?
撿便宜 (jiǎn piányi) means to get a bargain or take advantage of a good deal, literally to pick up something cheap. It can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context.