間
jiān, jiàn
Description
“间”是一个常用的字，可以表示两个东西中间的空间或时间。
"间" is a common character that can indicate the space or time between two things.
它也用来数房间，比如“一间房”，读第一声；读第四声时有“空隙、分开”的意思。
It is also used to count rooms, like "一间房" (one room), pronounced with the first tone; when pronounced with the fourth tone, it means "gap" or "separation."
Meanings
间jiān
between; among; within a space or time
他坐在我们两个人中间。
He sits between the two of us.
间jiān
measure word for rooms
我想订一间房。
I want to book a room.
间jiàn
gap; to separate; to come between
他们的关系被人离间了。
Their relationship was sabotaged by someone.
Related words
Notes
- Nuance
read jiān for space/time/counting rooms; read jiàn for gap or driving people apart.
- Etymology
originally 閒, showing the moon 月 seen through a door 門 — a gap/space.
In videos
“不行我不要玩這個遊戲太長時間”
“首先這段時間我一直在法國旅居”
“他可能有小小的時間差之類”
Images