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鑑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鑑jiànmirror, looking glass; to reflectx, 22 strokes, radical 釒
jiàn(jian4) T4
  1. 1mirror, looking glass; to reflect
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March 24, 2026

鑑jiàn(jian4)

The character 鑑 (jiàn) primarily means 'mirror' or 'looking glass.' It can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of reflecting on or evaluating something, such as one's actions or experiences. This character is commonly used in contexts related to self-reflection and assessment.

Strokes22Radical釒
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mirrors are not just practical items but also symbolize self-reflection and self-awareness. The concept of looking inward, especially during important life transitions, is significant in traditional Chinese philosophy.

Memory Tip

Imagine looking into a shiny mirror (鑑) that reflects not just your image but your thoughts and decisions. The radical 钅 (metal) suggests that the mirror is made of metal, enhancing its reflective quality, while the pronunciation 'jiàn' sounds like 'gent' — think of a gentleman who reflects on his behavior in the mirror.

Meanings of 鑑

jiàn(jian4)
1mirror, looking glass; to reflect
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鑑

鑑Simplified
22Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鑑

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Podcast: 鑑

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AI Study Notes for 鑑

Quick Contrast

鉴 (jiàn) vs 影 (yǐng) — use 鉴 for reflective evaluation, while 影 refers specifically to a shadow or image.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 鑑, as it can imply both a physical mirror and a figurative sense of reflection. It’s more formal and literary, so in casual conversation, simpler terms like 镜子 (jìngzi) for 'mirror' may be preferred. Avoid confusing it with other similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

While 鑑 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK level 4 words like 反思 (fǎnsī, to reflect) and 观察 (guānchá, to observe). Students should focus on the nuance of reflection and self-assessment associated with this character, as it enriches their understanding of related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鑑 (jiàn) with similar characters like 见 (jiàn, to see), leading to incorrect usages. For instance, saying '我用见看自己' instead of the correct '我用鉴看自己' can change the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鑑

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Etymology of 鑑

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)監
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鑑 = 釒 + 監. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鑑

IDS Structure⿰釒監
鑑Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
監jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鑑?

How to say mirror, looking glass; to reflect in Chinese

“mirror, looking glass; to reflect” in Chinese is鑑jiàn

The character 鑑 (jiàn) primarily means 'mirror' or 'looking glass.' It can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of reflecting on or evaluating something, such as one's actions or experiences. This character is commonly used in contexts related to self-reflection and assessment.

When to use 鑑

Be mindful of the context when using 鑑, as it can imply both a physical mirror and a figurative sense of reflection. It’s more formal and literary, so in casual conversation, simpler terms like 镜子 (jìngzi) for 'mirror' may be preferred. Avoid confusing it with other similar-sounding characters.

鑑 or something close to it

鉴 (jiàn) vs 影 (yǐng) — use 鉴 for reflective evaluation, while 影 refers specifically to a shadow or image.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鑑 (jiàn) with similar characters like 见 (jiàn, to see), leading to incorrect usages. For instance, saying '我用见看自己' instead of the correct '我用鉴看自己' can change the meaning entirely.

Write 鑑

鑑

Practice writing 鑑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 鑑

Words Containing This Character20
鉴定jiàndìngto appraise鑑定
鉴于jiànyúin view of鑒於
借鉴jièjiànto draw on (others' experience)借鑒
鉴jiànexample鑑
鉴别jiànbiéto differentiate鑑別
年鉴yearbook年鑑
有鉴于此in view of this有鑒於此
鉴赏jiànshǎngto appreciate鑑賞
前车之鉴to learn a lesson from the mistakes of one's predecessor (idiom)前車之鑒
亲子鉴定paternity or maternity test親子鑒定
印鉴stamp印鑒
鉴赏家connoisseur鑒賞家
品鉴to judge品鑒
资治通鉴A Mirror for the Wise Ruler (or Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government), a vast chronological general history, written by 司馬光|司马光[Sī​mǎ​Guāng] Sima Guang (1019-1089) and collaborators during the Northern Song in 1084, covering the period 403 BC-959 AD資治通鑒
鉴真Jianzhen or Ganjin (688-763), Tang dynastic Buddhist monk, who crossed to Japan after several unsuccessful attempts, influential in Japanese Buddhism鑒真
图鉴illustrated handbook圖鑒
评鉴evaluation評鑒
赏鉴to appreciate (a work of art)賞鑒
油光可鉴lustrous油光可鑒
鉴往知来to observe the past to foresee the future (idiom, taken loosely from Book of Songs); studying ancient wisdom gives insight into what is to come鑒往知來
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鑑

What does 鉴定 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鑑

镯子 (jìngzi) is the more common word for 'mirror' used in daily conversation, while 鑑 (jiàn) has a more formal or literary connotation, often related to reflection.

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