p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Translate Flashcards Sign in

槛

檻
kǎn
noun #49,255

Meanings

  1. 1 threshold
  2. 2 doorsill
  3. 3 (figurative) hurdle / barrier
  4. 4 (reading jiàn) cage / banister / balustrade

Examples

她跨过门槛走进了屋子。
Tā kuàguò ménkǎn zǒujìn le wūzi.
She stepped over the threshold and walked into the room.
找工作要先过简历这一槛。
Zhǎo gōngzuò yào xiān guò jiǎnlì zhè yī kǎn.
When job hunting, you first have to clear the résumé hurdle.
兽槛里关着一只老虎。
Shòu jiàn lǐ guānzhe yī zhī lǎohǔ.
A tiger is caged in the animal pen.

Tips

mistakes
This character is a heteronym — it has TWO completely different readings with different meanings: kǎn means 'threshold / hurdle' (almost always seen as 门槛 ménkǎn); jiàn means 'cage / balustrade' (in 兽槛 shòujiàn, 槛车 jiànchē 'prisoner cart'). Wrong reading = wrong meaning.
culture
Traditional Chinese houses had a high wooden 门槛 (ménkǎn) — sometimes knee-high — meant to keep out evil spirits, dirt, and wandering animals. Stepping ON it (rather than over it) was rude; this is the source of the modern figurative 'hurdle' meaning.

Stroke Order

槛 kǎn