牋 (jiān) - Slip of paper & note

牋Tone 1

jiān ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

嘉健

牋 · jiān

Slip of paper;

note;

letter;

memorandum;

a variant form of 箋.

Slip of papernoteletter

Usage highlights

Note paperMemorial to the throneLetter paperNotepaperBamboo slipPoetry manuscript

Synonyms

  • 箋— slip of paper; note; memorandum (standard variant)
  • 札— slip of wood for writing; letter
  • 簡— bamboo slip; simple; brief

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He wrote a note on a slip of paper (便牋).
  • The official submitted a memorial (奏牋).
  • She used stationery for her correspondence (信牋).
  • Ancient manuscripts were written on bamboo slips (竹牋).

Collocations

  • Note paper(牋紙)
  • Memorial to the throne(奏牋)
  • Letter paper(信牋)
  • Notepaper(便牋)
  • Bamboo slip(竹牋)
  • Poetry manuscript(詩牋)

Idioms

  • Writing on slips and tablets(牋翰之文)
  • Memorials and petitions(牋奏之體)
  • Elegant stationery(錦牋玉札)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to small slips of bamboo or wood used for writing in ancient China.
  • Later extended to mean fine paper used for correspondence, poetry, or official documents.
  • Represents the material culture of writing and communication in pre-modern China.

FAQ