How to write 间 (jiān, “between”)
间, an HSK 1 character, is read jiān for “between” and “among”, and also jiàn (“gap”). The traditional form is 間, 12 strokes instead of 7. On its own it is an HSK 2 word; it also forms 房间 (“room”), 时间 (“time”) and 洗手间 (“toilet”). Japanese keeps the traditional 間, read kan (“interval”).
- Pinyin
- jiān, jiàn
- Strokes
- 7
- HSK
- 1
- Radical
- 门 (“gate”)
- Traditional
- 間
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
As an open-bottom frame character it splits into 门 (“gate”, the radical), strokes 1–3; 日 (“sun”), strokes 4–7, written the frame first.
- top leftdown and right
- top leftdownwards
- toprightwards → downwards
- topdownwards
- centerrightwards → downwards
- centerrightwards
- centerrightwards
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 间 · 7 strokes
- Traditional
- 間 · 12 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| jiān first tone | between; among; within a definite time or space; room; section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars | 間 | 房间 时间 洗手间 中间 |
| jiàn fourth tone | gap; to separate; to thin out (seedlings); to sow discontent | 間 | 间接 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 1
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 2 word
- Words with it
- 233 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 间
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 间 間 | jiān | between; among HSK 2 |
| 房间 房間 | fángjiān | room HSK 1 |
| 时间 時間 | shíjiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time HSK 1 |
| 洗手间 洗手間 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory HSK 2 |
| 中间 中間 | zhōngjiān | the middle; the inside HSK 3 |
| 卫生间 衛生間 | wèishēngjiān | bathroom; toilet HSK 3 |
| 时间表 時間表 | shíjiānbiǎo | schedule; timetable HSK 4 |
| 之间 之間 | zhījiān | (after a noun) between; among HSK 4 |
| 期间 期間 | qījiān | period of time; time HSK 5 |
| 空间 空間 | kōngjiān | space; room HSK 5 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
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HSK 1, in list order: