贱 jiàn — mean · English

贱

jiàn

mean

At a glance · 贱

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「贱」繁体「賤」从貝戋声，小篆从貝戋声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「贱」本义为价格低，引申卑贱、下贱、轻视。

Structure

从貝、戋(jiān)声，形声字，貝表价值义类，本为价低、卑下。简作贱。

At a glance

Pinyinjiàn

Radical贝

Strokes9

UnicodeU+8D31

Character type形声

Theme人伦

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English mean mean, low; cheap, worthless

Français bas / vil Bas, vil. «乐殊贵贱» : les personnes de bas rang.

Español bajo / vil Bajo, vil. «乐殊贵贱»: las personas de bajo rango.

العربية وضيع / حقير وضيع، حقير. «乐殊贵贱»: ذوو الرتبة المنخفضة.

Русский низкий / презренный Низкий, презренный. «乐殊贵贱»: лица низкого ранга.

Common words

贱jiànlow
贫贱pín jiànpoor

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