兼 (jiān): to hold simultaneously; to comb…

Meanings

1 to hold simultaneously; to combine
2 concurrently; simultaneously

Characters

兼

jiān

simultaneously; to combine

Examples

他身兼数职。

Tā shēn jiān shù zhí.

He holds several positions simultaneously.

这个产品兼具美观和实用。

Zhège chǎnpǐn jiānjù měiguān hé shíyòng.

This product combines aesthetics and practicality.

Tips

usage

兼 means doing/having multiple things at once. Common patterns: 兼职 (part-time job), 兼容 (compatible), 兼顾 (attend to both), 身兼数职 (hold multiple posts).

Components

ideograph

兼 jiān

to combine; simultaneously

Single fused ten-stroke unit that no longer splits cleanly into independent CJK pieces. Powers 廉 and 嫌 as a phonetic family. Historically a hand grasping two 禾 grain stalks at once — one fist clutching two bundles, giving the 'do or hold two things at the same time' meaning.

Filed under radical 八 (bā) by convention. 八 is not a separate component in 兼, so no strokes are highlighted.