How to Write 搛 (jiān) — Meaning “to pick up (with chopsticks)”

Q: What is a good memory trick to remember 搛?

Imagine you are using chopsticks (the hand radical) to pick up a piece of food shaped like the character 兼. The top part of 兼 looks like two chopsticks crossing to grab a small item.

Q: How do I write 搛 correctly and what common mistakes should I avoid?

Write the left radical 扌 first (3 strokes), then the right part 兼 (10 strokes). Keep the horizontal strokes in 兼 parallel and evenly spaced. A common mistake is making the right side too narrow or forgetting the final vertical stroke that completes the 兼 structure.

Q: How is 搛 different from 挲 and 捧?

搛 specifically means picking up food with chopsticks. 挲 (suō) means to rub or stroke with the hand, while 捧 (pěng) means to hold or lift with both hands. Visually, 搛 has 兼 on the right, 挲 has 沙, and 捧 has 奉.

Q: What common words use 搛?

Common words containing 搛 include: 搛菜 (jiān cài) — to pick up food (with chopsticks); 搛起 (jiān qǐ) — to pick up (with chopsticks); 搛一点 (jiān yì diǎn) — to pick up a little bit (with chopsticks).

jiān 13 strokes Radical: 扌

搛 (jiān) means "to pick up (with chopsticks)" in Chinese. It has 13 strokes with the radical 扌.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Appears in 3+ common words including 搛菜 (jiān cài), 搛起 (jiān qǐ), 搛一点 (jiān yì diǎn).

Due to its 13 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 搛 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 搛 (jiān)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 搛 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 搛

The character 搛 (jiān) is written with 13 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 扌 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does jiān (搛) Mean in Chinese?

搛 means to pick up (with chopsticks).

Character Data

Character	搛
Pinyin	jiān (jian)
Meaning	to pick up (with chopsticks)
Strokes	13
Radical	扌
Difficulty	4.2/5

Origin of 搛

搛 combines 扌 (hand) with 兼 (combine/double), which originally depicted a hand grasping two stalks of grain. Together, they evoke the action of using chopsticks to pick up a combined or double portion of food.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture a hand (扌) skillfully wielding chopsticks to snatch a double (兼) dumpling from the plate.

Common Words with 搛

搛菜 jiān cài

to pick up food (with chopsticks)

搛起 jiān qǐ

to pick up (with chopsticks)

搛一点 jiān yì diǎn

to pick up a little bit (with chopsticks)

Example Sentences

请大家随便搛菜吃。

qǐng dà jiā suí biàn jiān cài chī

Everyone, please help yourselves to the food.

他搛起一块肉放进碗里。

tā jiān qǐ yī kuài ròu fàng jìn wǎn lǐ

He picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks and put it in the bowl.

你再多搛一点菜吧。

nǐ zài duō jiān yì diǎn cài ba

Have some more food.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
搛 (current)	jiān	13	扌
挲	sā	11	扌
捧	pěng	11	扌
捩	liè	11	扌

Practice Writing 搛 (jiān)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 搛 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

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Frequently Asked Questions about 搛

What is the structure of 搛 and how does it relate to meaning?

搛 is a left-right character. The left side 扌 (hand radical) indicates the action is done with the hand or chopsticks held in hand. The right side 兼 provides the pronunciation jiān and also suggests the motion of picking up something small.

What is a good memory trick to remember 搛?

How do I write 搛 correctly and what common mistakes should I avoid?

How is 搛 different from 挲 and 捧?

When and how do Chinese people actually use the character 搛?

What common words use 搛?

How to Write 搛 (jiān) — Meaning “to pick up (with chopsticks)”

Practice Writing 搛 (jiān)

How to Write 搛

What Does jiān (搛) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 搛

Common Words with 搛

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 搛 (jiān)

Frequently Asked Questions about 搛

Characters with Radical 扌

Other 13-Stroke Characters