Usage note
建表示建立、建造。
jiàn biǎo shì jiàn lì 、 jiàn zào。
建 means to build or establish.
Context note
建常用于房屋、关系和制度。
jiàn cháng yòng yú fáng wū 、 guān xì hé zhì dù。
It is often used with buildings, relations, and systems.
5 examples
这里要建学校。
zhè lǐ yào jiàn xué xiào。
A school will be built here.
他们正在建桥。
tā men zhèng zài jiàn qiáo。
They are building a bridge.
建新房需要时间。
jiàn xīn fáng xū yào shí jiān。
Building a new house takes time.
他想建立好习惯。
tā xiǎng jiàn lì hǎo xí guàn。
He wants to build good habits.
这座城市建得很快。
zhè zuò chéng shì jiàn dé hěn kuài。
This city was built quickly.
5 mini stories
工人们在建一座新楼。
gōng rén men zài jiàn yí zuò xīn lóu。
The workers are building a new building.
老师说，先建基础，再学更多。
lǎo shī shuō， xiān jiàn jī chǔ， zài xué gèng duō。
The teacher said to build the foundation first, then learn more.
他们打算在这里建图书馆。
tā men dǎ suàn zài zhè lǐ jiàn tú shū guǎn。
They plan to build a library here.
建好后，这里会更方便。
jiàn hǎo hòu， zhè lǐ huì gèng fāng biàn。
After it is built, this place will be more convenient.
她想建立一个学习小组。
tā xiǎng jiàn lì yí gè xué xí xiǎo zǔ。
She wants to build a study group.
Mini dialogue
搭积木
A
你想建什么？
Nǐ xiǎng jiàn shénme?
What do you want to build?
B
我想建一座很高的大楼。
Wǒ xiǎng jiàn yī zuò hěn gāo de dà lóu.
I want to build a very tall building.
学校附近
A
学校旁边在建什么？
Xuéxiào pángbiān zài jiàn shénme?
What is being built next to the school?
B
在建一个新的图书馆。
Zài jiàn yī gè xīn de túshūguǎn.
A new library is being built.
Related words and contrasts
similar
盖
gài
to build (a house)
Often used for building houses or structures.
similar
造
zào
to make; to build
Used in words like 制造 (manufacture) or 建造 (construct).
opposite
拆
chāi
to tear down
Opposite of building; to demolish.