建设 (jiàn shè) — to build; to construct; to establish; to develop… in Mandarin
🔊 Tap to hear it
#294 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
建设 is pronounced jiàn shè. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
zhèng fǔ zhèng zài jiàn shè yī tiáo xīn de dì tiě xiàn.
The government is constructing a new subway line.
Hear it, then say it right
Reading pinyin only gets you halfway. ToneDeck plays native audio for 建设 and thousands more words, then scores your pronunciation so your tones land. HSK 1 is free, no install.
Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 建设 mean?+
建设 (jiàn shè) means "to build; to construct; to establish; to develop…" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 建设?+
建设 is pronounced jiàn shè. It uses the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 建设 in Mandarin?+
建设 is the #294 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 建设 fits
Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
Coming to iOS & Android
The mobile app is on the way. The trainer works right now.
ToneDeck for iPhone and Android is launching soon, and your progress syncs across every device. Meanwhile the full tone trainer runs in your browser today — no install, free to start.
Browse more on the Mandarin vocabulary hub, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.