Ideographic: A point, small 小 over big 大Radical:

meaning for jiān:

  • - point (of needle)
  • - sharp
  • - shrewd
  • - pointedsharp
  • - intense
  • - penetrating
  • - pointed
  • - acute (illness)sharp pointed end
  • - the tip
  • - the cusp
  • - tip-top
  • - most advanced and sophisticated
  • - highest peak
  • - the bestto screech
  • - to shriekpeak
  • - apex
  • - world best
  • - number one
  • - finest (competitors)
  • - top (figures in a certain field)the extremity of the foot