建

Means “to erect, to set up, to establish, to build (a building, structure, or institution).”

Can also extend to abstract meanings such as “to found” or “to establish” (e.g., a nation, system, or policy).

A pictophonetic/associative compound:

聿 (“brush, implement, tool”) — phonetic element

廴 (“to advance, to extend, to go forward”) — semantic element suggesting movement or foundation

Originally depicted a hand holding a tool and advancing, symbolizing the act of erecting or building.

By extension, came to mean not only constructing physical structures but also founding institutions, setting up systems, or establishing principles.

建築 (건축) — construction, architecture

建立 (건립) — to establish, to set up

建國 (건국) — founding of a nation

建設 (건설) — construction, development

建議 (건의) — proposal, suggestion

In classical contexts, 建 often connotes founding something lasting — such as 建國 (“to found a state”).

In modern usage, it is widely used in both literal (buildings) and figurative (institutions, proposals) senses.