jiǎn

蹇

Character · Adjective · Noun

lame; unfortunate; donkey

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

4 senses · 7 examples
1.

adjective

lame; crippled

literary

A classical literary term describing a physical disability of the leg or foot.

Cǐ此
mǎ马
suī虽
jiǎn蹇
 ，
yóu犹
néng能
zhì致
yuǎn远
 。

Although this horse is lame, it can still travel great distances.

Cè策
jiǎn蹇
lǘ驴
 ，
náng囊
tú图
shū书
 。

Driving a lame donkey, carrying a bag of books.

2.

adjective

unfortunate; unlucky; difficult

literary

Used in a literary context to describe a difficult fate or situation.

Tā他
mìng命
yùn运
duō多
jiǎn蹇
 ，
yī一
shēng生
kǎn坎
kě坷
 。

He was born under an unlucky star; his life has been full of hardships.

Shí时
yùn运
bù不
jì济
 ，
mìng命
tú途
duō多
jiǎn蹇
 。

The times are unfavorable, and fate is full of difficulties.

3.

noun

donkey; inferior horse

archaic

An archaic term specifically referring to a donkey or a feeble horse.

Chéng乘
jiǎn蹇
zhú逐
yě野
 ，
zì自
dé得
qí其
lè乐
 。

Riding a donkey to roam the countryside, finding joy in it.

Cè策
jiǎn蹇
qián前
xíng行
 ，
lù路
yuǎn远
tiáo迢
tiáo迢
 。

Driving a lame horse forward, the road is long and far.

4.

noun

a surname

A rare Chinese surname.

Jiǎn蹇
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
de的
lì历
shǐ史
lǎo老
shī师
 。

Mr. Jian is our history teacher.