jian2

jian2 means 'toil'

• How is the Character pronounced?
• What are the calligraphy steps?

jian2 has two components . The first component is a non-character that in itself denotes 'some form of difficulty'. The second component is gen which means 'root' or 'mountain'. Put together we have the idea 'to till a mountain side which is difficult'.

jian2ju4 means 'herculean task' and literally translates as 'toil'-'huge'.

ju4 is was originally a hieroglyph of a large carpenter's square.

jian2shen1 means 'abstruse' and literally translates as 'toil'-'deep'.

shen1 has two components . The first component denotes 'water' and the second component is a non-character that originally meant 'chimney' and was extended to mean 'difficult to reach'. It 'chimney' meaning came about from  meaning 'hole above wood that is burning'. Here we use the extended meaning of 'hard to reach' combined with the first component of 'water' denotes 'difficult to reach depths' i.e. 'deep'.