件 meaning in English

jiàn

item; component

HSK 2measure word6 strokes

Meaning of 件

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

jiàn

item
component
classifier for events, things, clothes etc

How to use 件

件 (jiàn) is a measure word for clothing worn on the upper body, for matters and events, and for pieces of luggage or items. It also forms nouns like 文件 (wénjiàn) document and 邮件 (yóujiàn) mail. Example: 我买了一件衬衫。(Wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn chènshān.) I bought a shirt.

件 is made of 亻 (person) on the left and 牛 (cow) on the right. Picture a person counting cows one by one, each cow a separate item.

Common mistake: Learners often use 件 for pants, but trousers and skirts take 条 (tiáo), as in 一条裤子 (yì tiáo kùzi). Also do not confuse 件 with 伴 (bàn, companion), which has 半 on the right instead of 牛.

件 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ知zhī道dào你nǐ今jīn天tiān不bù需xū要yào做zuò那nà件jiàn事shì。

I know you don't need to do that today.

你nǐ应yīng该gāi能néng做zuò到dào那nà件jiàn事shì。

You should be able to do that.

我wǒ可kě以yǐ问wèn你nǐ一yī件jiàn事shì吗ma？

Can I ask you something?

有yǒu件jiàn事shì情qíng我wǒ要yào对duì你nǐ说shuō。

There's something I want to tell you.

这zhè被bèi认rèn为wéi是shì一yī件jiàn大dà事shì。

This is considered to be a matter of great importance.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

件 jiàn · item · 6 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 件.

条件	tiáojiàn	condition; circumstance; term; factor; requirement; prerequisite; qualification
事件	shìjiàn	incident; event
文件	wénjiàn	document; file
邮件	yóujiàn	mail; post
证件	zhèngjiàn	certificate; papers; credentials; document; ID
电子邮件	diànzǐ yóujiàn	email
软件	ruǎnjiàn	software
硬件	yìngjiàn	hardware
附件	fùjiàn	appendix (in a document); enclosure (accompanying a document)
案件	ànjiàn	case; instance
信件	xìnjiàn	letter (sent by mail)
零件	língjiàn	part; component

Questions about 件

What does 件 mean?

件 (jiàn) means "item; component" and is used as a measure word.

How do you write 件?

件 is made of 1 character: 件 (6 strokes). That is 6 strokes in total.

Is 件 an HSK word?

Yes. 件 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

Can 件 be used for abstract things like problems or news?

Yes. 件 is common with 事 (shì), as in 一件事 (yí jiàn shì) one matter. You also hear 这件事情 (zhè jiàn shìqing) this matter, and 一件礼物 (yí jiàn lǐwù) a gift.

What does 件 mean in words like 邮件 and 文件?

Here 件 means an item or piece. 邮件 (yóujiàn) is a mailed item, 文件 (wénjiàn) is a written item or file, and 证件 (zhèngjiàn) is an item that proves identity.