jiān

small

Original meaning: 

kill

Simplified form of . Combination of two weapons (), based on the original meaning "kill", now written as . The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Components
戈 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

spear

戈 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

spear

Evolution

戋 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
戋 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
戋 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
戋 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
戋 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

jiān

small, narrow, tiny, little; narrow; small

Component uses

Meaning component in 2 characters (0 verified)

Sound component in 10 characters (4 verified)

线