TraceHanzi

建设 meaning in English

jiànshè

to build; to construct; to establish; to develop; to institute

HSK 3verbnounTraditional 建設14 strokes

Meaning of 建设

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

jiànshè
  1. to build; to construct; to establish; to develop; to institute

How to use 建设

建设 is used for large-scale building or development, such as cities, countries, infrastructure, or abstract things like culture and teams. It is common in news and formal speech, and it also works as a noun meaning construction or development. Example: 这座城市正在建设新的地铁。(Zhè zuò chéngshì zhèngzài jiànshè xīn de dìtiě.) This city is building a new subway.

建 (jiàn) means to build and 设 (shè) means to set up or arrange, so 建设 is building something and setting it up properly. Picture builders putting up a structure and then arranging everything inside so it works.

Common mistake: Learners often use 建设 for small, everyday building, like building a doghouse. For small things, 做 (zuò) or 盖 (gài) sounds more natural. Also, 设 (shè) is fourth tone, and learners sometimes say it as third tone.

建设 in example sentences

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

你nǐ的de想xiǎng法fǎ很hěn有yǒu建jiàn设shè性xìng。
Your opinion is very constructive.
批pī评píng的de目mù的dì是shì建jiàn设shè而ér不bú是shì破pò坏huài。
The purpose of criticism is to construct, not to destroy.
我wǒ需xū要yào去qù一yī趟tàng中zhōng国guó建jiàn设shè银yín行háng。
I need to go to the China Construction Bank.
一yī座zuò新xīn的de教jiào学xué楼lóu正zhèng在zài建jiàn设shè。
A new school building is under construction.
市shì政zhèng府fǔ想xiǎng建jiàn设shè专zhuān门mén的de自zì行xíng车chē道dào。但dàn是shì，很hěn多duō司sī机jī反fǎn对duì这zhè个ge主zhǔ意yì。
The city government wants to set up special cycle lanes. However, a lot of drivers oppose the idea.

Stroke order for each character

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

建 jiàn · to establish · 8 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8

设 shè · to set up · 6 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6

Related words

Words that share a character with 建设.

建议jiànyìto propose; to suggest; to recommend; proposal; suggestion; recommendation (CL:點|点[dian3])
设计shèjìto design; to plan; design; plan
建立jiànlìto establish; to set up
设备shèbèiequipment; facilities; installations
设立shèlìto set up; to establish
建成jiànchéngto establish; to build
设置shèzhìto set up; to install
设施shèshīfacilities; installation
建筑jiànzhùto construct; building
建造jiànzàoto construct; to build
设想shèxiǎngto imagine; to assume
修建xiūjiànto build; to construct

Questions about 建设

What does 建设 mean?

建设 (jiànshè) means "to build; to construct; to establish; to develop; to institute" and is used as a verb and noun.

How do you write 建设?

建设 is made of 2 characters: 建 (8 strokes), 设 (6 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.

Is 建设 an HSK word?

Yes. 建设 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 建设 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 建设 is written 建設.

What is the difference between 建设 and 建立?

建设 focuses on building up and developing something over time, often physical infrastructure or a country. 建立 (jiànlì) focuses on establishing something new, like a relationship, a system, or an organization.

What does 建设性 mean?

建设性 (jiànshèxìng) means constructive. It often appears in phrases like 建设性的意见 (jiànshèxìng de yìjiàn), constructive feedback.

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