Pinyin "jian3"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "jian3" is split up into two parts: "ji" and "an3". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "ji"

Ji is for Joan of Arc.

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "an3"

In the anthill's living room.

Characters pronounced jian3

to check / to examine / to inspect / to exercise restraint

= + : Joan of Arc (ji) and General 傅佥 (佥) are spending Christmas Eve inside of the anthill (an3). Next to them there is a Christmas tree (木) at the bar. Joan of Arc and the general again and again check (检) and investigate (检) the tree whether there are already some presents under it.
simple / uncomplicated / letter / to choose / to select / bamboo strips used for writing (old)

= + : Joan of Arc is working out inside of the anthill. She put up a changing cubicle and on top of it a bamboo stick so that she can practise pull ups. It's very easy for her to do 20 pull ups in a row.
to lower / to decrease / to reduce / to subtract / to diminish

= + : Joan of Arc (ji) found that there's a giant popsicle (冫) obstructing the way to the bar inside of the anthill (an3). To clear the way, she reduces (减) the size of the popsicle by scattering salt (咸) all over it.
scissors / shears / clippers / CL:把[ba3] / to cut with scissors / to trim / to wipe out or exterminate

= + : Joan of Arc (ji) wants to cut some ingredients for her cocktail in the anthill (an3), and she wants to use some very complicated electrical scissors (剪) for the task. The scissors have to be used through a complicated front panel (前) and after having studied the front panel for 15 minutes Joan of Arc is so enraged that she cuts her ingredients as well as the front panel with a large cleaver (刀).
surname Jian

= + : Joan of Arc (ji) wants to cut some ingredients for her cocktail in the anthill (an3), and she wants to use some very complicated electrical scissors (剪) for the task. The scissors have to be used through a complicated front panel (前) and after having studied the front panel for 15 minutes Joan of Arc is so enraged that she cuts her ingredients as well as the front panel with a large cleaver (刀).
to pick up / to collect / to gather

= + : Joan of Arc (ji) got a little tipsy in the anthill (an3) and wants to pick up (捡) General Fu Qian (佥) - literally, with a toy claw (扌).
abbr. for 柬埔寨[Jian3 pu3 zhai4], Cambodia

= + + : Joan of Arc (ji) received an invitation letter (柬) to visit the anthill, and when she arrives she finds a Christmas tree (木) inside (an3). Under the Christmas tree there is a wooden box (囗) with her name on it. She doesn't know that upon opening the box, the mean crocodile (丷) will jump out and devour her.
card / note / letter / old variant of 揀|拣[jian3]

= + + : Joan of Arc (ji) received an invitation letter (柬) to visit the anthill, and when she arrives she finds a Christmas tree (木) inside (an3). Under the Christmas tree there is a wooden box (囗) with her name on it. She doesn't know that upon opening the box, the mean crocodile (丷) will jump out and devour her.
frugal / thrifty / needy

= + : General Fu Qian (佥) is a very rich and respected general, but he still lives very frugal (俭). To amuse himself he merely visits the anthill's bar (an3) and puts one arm around Joan of Arc (ji) and Rosa Luxemburg (亻) respectively.
to choose / to pick / to sort out / to pick up

= + + : Someone opened a popup store in the anthill (an3), and it looks like a Pudong Oriental Pearl Tower (东). Joan of Arc (ji) enters the shop to buy a new flute (一), and she chooses (拣) the right flute for her with a toy claw (扌).
base / alkali / soda (chemistry)
variant of 鹼|碱[jian3]
(bound form) cocoon / (bound form) callus (variant of 趼[jian3])
cocoon / callus