渐

2 readings · tap one to hear it

gradual; gradually

Sound it out + + = · + + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

氵 meaning “water” + 斩 sound ( zhǎn )

Components 氵斩

gradually · Heisig RSH #930

水 water + 斩 hew

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
渐新世	Jiàn xīn shì	Oligocene (geological epoch from 34m-24m years ago)
渐变色	jiàn biàn sè	color gradient
金渐层	jīn jiàn céng	golden British shorthair (cat)
渐新统	jiàn xīn tǒng	Oligocene system (geology)
渐近线	jiàn jìn xiàn	(math.) asymptote
银渐层	yín jiàn céng	silver British shorthair (cat)
渐冻人症	jiàn dòng rén zhèng	amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), aka motor neurone disease (MND)
防微杜渐	fáng wēi dù jiàn	to nip in the bud (idiom)
日渐	rì jiàn	to progress (or increase, change etc) day by day; more (or better etc) with each passing d…
渐入佳境	jiàn rù jiā jìng	(idiom) to gradually improve; to get better and better
渐行渐远	jiàn xíng jiàn yuǎn	gradually proceed, gradually get further apart
渐变	jiàn biàn	gradual change; (graphic design) gradient
渐进	jiàn jìn	progress step by step; gradual progress; to move forward (slowly)
渐次	jiàn cì	gradually; one by one
渐冻症	jiàn dòng zhèng	amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ALS
循序渐进	xún xù jiàn jìn	in sequence, step by step (idiom); to make steady progress incrementally
渐快	jiàn kuài	to speed up gradually; faster and faster; (music) accelerando
积渐	jī jiàn	gradually
渐近	jiàn jìn	to approach gradually
杜渐防萌	dù jiān fáng méng	to nip in the bud

Characters sharing the sound component 斩 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
斩 sound part	zhǎn	to chop, to cut, to sever; to behead
暂	zàn	temporary
崭	zhǎn	new, bold; steep, high
堑	qiàn	moat, pit, trench; cavity
惭	cán	ashamed, humiliated; shameful
椠	qiàn	wooden tablet; edition