间 Stroke Order — How to Write 间
间 is written in 7 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 门, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
间 Radical and Character Components
间 is an ideographic compound. The sun 日 shining through a doorway 门.
Radical: 门 + 4 more strokes
间 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- jiān
- jiàn
Meanings of 间 in Chinese
1
jiān间
Refers to the space or interval between two things or two periods of time.
我们约定在两周之间见面。
We agreed to meet within two weeks.
Within a certain space or period of time; between.
晚饭后，全家人围坐在客厅里，享受着这温馨的家庭时间
After dinner, the whole family sat around in the living room, enjoying this warm family time.
A partitioned section within a room or house; a compartment or room.
我家有一个很大的衣帽间。
My house has a very large walk-in closet.
Measure word for rooms, e.g., a room.
这所房子有三间卧室。
This house has three bedrooms.
2
jiàn间
Gap; interval; in between (used in expressions like '亲密无间' meaning 'intimately close, without any space or distance between').
他们俩亲密无间，总是一起行动。
The two of them are intimately close, always doing things together.
To separate, to be spaced out, or to be indirect.
我们保持间隔，避免过度拥挤
We maintain a safe distance to avoid overcrowding.
To sow discord, to alienate, or to create estrangement between people.
他喜欢挑拨离间，让大家互相猜疑
He likes to sow discord and alienate, making everyone suspicious of each other.
To thin out, as in removing excess seedlings to ensure healthy growth.
农夫在田里间苗。
The farmer is thinning the seedlings in the field.
A secluded or secret path, often used for travel to bypass main routes.
他们沿着间道，避开了繁忙的大路
They followed the secret path, avoiding the busy main road.
When pronounced 'jiàn', '间' means to intervene, to participate in, or to sow discord, often implying an unwanted or disruptive involvement. It carries a similar nuance to the classical '又何间焉', questioning the necessity of intervention.
你不要总想挑拨离间，这样不好。
You shouldn't always try to sow discord; that's not good.
Common Words and Phrases with 间
1
Describes something extremely close or narrow, with no room for even a hair; also used to describe a situation that is extremely critical or precarious.
登山队在暴风雪中迷路，物资耗尽，情势间不容发
The climbing team got lost in the blizzard, their supplies ran out, and the situation was extremely critical.
2
A person who secretly collects and reports information, especially for a government or organization; a spy.
这个新产品发布会，大家都在提防竞争对手派来的间谍。
At this new product launch conference, everyone was on guard against spies sent by competitors.
3
interrupted or suspended
会议进行到一半，因为技术故障而间断了
The meeting was interrupted halfway through due to a technical fault.
4
The space or interval between two points, objects, or events.
为了保护眼睛，工作一段时间后请间隔休息几分钟。
To protect your eyes, please take a few minutes' break at intervals after working for a while.
5
An onomatopoeia describing the melodious chirping or warbling of birds.
窗外黄鹂间关啼啭，婉转动听，引人入胜
Outside the window, orioles sang their intricate, melodious songs, which were captivating and enchanting.
6
7
The framework or structure of something, such as the skeletal arrangement of a building, the composition of strokes in a Chinese character, or the layout of an essay.
这座老房子的间架非常坚固。
The structure of this old house is very solid.
8
9
The distance or space separating two points or objects.
请确保书架上每本书之间有适当的间距，方便取放。
Please ensure there is appropriate spacing between each book on the shelf for easy access.
10
to thin out seedlings
为了让剩下的玉米苗长得更好，农民伯伯正在地里间苗
To help the remaining corn seedlings grow better, the farmer is thinning them out in the field.
11
Vivax malaria, also known as tertian malaria, is caused by Plasmodium vivax and characterized by recurrent attacks typically every 48 hours.
他不幸感染了间日疟，医生正在积极为他治疗。
He unfortunately contracted vivax malaria, and doctors are actively treating him.
12
Secondary colors formed by mixing two primary colors (e.g., orange from red and yellow, green from yellow and blue); it can also refer to mixed or variegated colors other than the fundamental ones.
这幅画的色彩搭配非常和谐，特别是巧妙运用了各种间色，使得画面富有层次感。
The color scheme of this painting is very harmonious, especially the skillful use of various secondary colors, making the picture rich in layers.
13
A gap, space, or interval between two objects or events; also, mechanical clearance.
请确保安装时，组件之间留有适当的间隙，以防止摩擦或过热。
Please ensure that there is an appropriate gap between components during installation to prevent friction or overheating.
14
an interval or break between periods of activity or change.
我需要做间歇性运动来保持身体健康。
I need to do intermittent exercise to stay healthy.
15
Intercropping; planting two or more crops in the same field during the same growing season or at the same time.
农民们通过间种玉米和豆类，可以更有效地利用土地并提高产量
Farmers can more effectively utilize land and increase yields by intercropping corn and legumes.
More words with 间
- qí其jiān间during that time; in or among them
- cǐ此jiān间here
- fán凡jiān间the secular world
- jū居jiān间intermediation, mediation
- kè课jiān间break, recess
- lí离jiàn间Sow discord, Alienate
- shè舍jiān间my humble abode
- tào套jiān间suite
- wǎn晚jiān间at night or in the evening
- wǔ午jiān间at noon or midday
- yáng阳jiān间The present world; the human world.
- fáng房jiān间room
- méi眉jiān间glabella, between the eyebrows
- mín民jiān间folk, non-governmental
- qī期jiān间period, duration
- shùn瞬jiān间instant, moment
- tián田jiān间in the field, field
- xiāng乡jiān间Countryside, Rural area
- lóu楼tī梯jiān间Stairwell, Staircase
- qū区jiān间interval, range
Idioms with 间
- jiān间bù不róng容huǎn缓brooking no delay
- bó伯zhòng仲zhī之jiān间equally matched
- chūn春mǎn满rén人jiān间Spring fills the human world
- dàn旦xī夕zhī之jiān间in a very short time
- tán弹zhǐ指zhī之jiān间in an instant
- fǎn反jiàn间zhī之jì计sow discord among the enemy
- fǔ俯yǎng仰zhī之jiān间in an instant
- gǔ股zhǎng掌zhī之jiān间within one's complete control
- hū呼xī吸zhī之jiān间in an instant
- huáng黄jīn金shí时jiān间prime time
- jì季mèng孟zhī之jiān间between the best and the worst
- lì立tán谈zhī之jiān间in an instant
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Open the tool →Questions about 间
What does 间 mean in Chinese?
间 (jiān) means “Measure word for rooms” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 间?
间 has 2 pronunciations: jiān, jiàn.
How many strokes does 间 have?
间 has 7 strokes.
How do you write 间?
间 is written in 7 strokes, starting from the radical 门. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 间?
The radical of 间 is 门, and 间 is an ideographic compound.