jiàn

鉴

Character · Noun · VerbTraditional鑑

mirror; examine; lesson

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

5 senses · 13 examples
1.

noun

mirror (esp. ancient bronze mirror)

archaic

Historically refers to polished bronze mirrors used in ancient China.

Gǔ古
dài代
guì贵
zú族
shǐ使
yòng用
tóng铜
jiàn鉴
 。

Ancient nobility used bronze mirrors.

Yǐ以
tóng铜
wéi为
jiàn鉴
 ,
kě可
yǐ以
zhèng正
yī衣
guān冠
 。

Using bronze as a mirror, one can adjust one's dress.

2.

verb

to reflect; to mirror; to shine upon

literary

Literary usage; often describes clear water reflecting images.

Hú湖
shuǐ水
qīng清
chè澈
 ,
kě可
jiàn鉴
rén人
yǐng影
 。

The lake water is so clear it can mirror one's reflection.

Yuè月
guāng光
rú如
shuǐ水
 ,
jiàn鉴
zhào照
dà大
dì地
 。

The moonlight, like water, shines upon the earth.

3.

verb

to examine carefully; to inspect; to appraise

formal

Formal term for careful observation or evaluation.

Zhuān专
jiā家
zhèng正
zài在
jiàn鉴
bié别
zhè这
fú幅
huà画
de的
zhēn真
wěi伪
 。

Experts are appraising the authenticity of this painting.

Fǎ法
yuàn院
jiāng将
jiàn鉴
dìng定
zhè这
fèn份
zhèng证
jù据
 。

The court will examine this piece of evidence.

Show 1 more example
Jiàn鉴
wǎng往
zhī知
lái来
 。

Review the past to understand the future.

4.

noun

warning; lesson; cautionary example

formal

Refers to historical or personal events from which a lesson should be learned.

Zhè这
cì次
shī失
bài败
shì是
hěn很
hǎo好
de的
qián前
chē车
zhī之
jiàn鉴
 。

This failure is a good lesson (from the overturned cart ahead).

Wǒ我
men们
yào要
yǐn引
yǐ以
wéi为
jiàn鉴
 ,
bì避
miǎn免
zài再
fàn犯
tóng同
yàng样
de的
cuò错
wù误
 。

We must take it as a warning to avoid making the same mistake again.

Show 1 more example
Lì历
shǐ史
de的
jiào教
xùn训
zhí值
dé得
jiè借
jiàn鉴
 。

The lessons of history are worth learning from.

5.

noun

polite term (in letters) asking the recipient to read; your perusal

archaic

Archaic honorific formula used in traditional Chinese letters, placed after the salutation.

Zūn尊
jiàn鉴
 :
jiǔ久
wèi未
wù晤
miàn面
 ,
shèn甚
niàn念
 。

To your esteemed perusal: It has been a long time since we met, I miss you dearly.

Huì惠
jiàn鉴
 :
lái来
xìn信
yǐ已
shōu收
xī悉
 。

To your kind perusal: Your letter has been received.

Show 1 more example
Jūn钧
jiàn鉴
 。

To your honorable perusal (used for high officials).