干

乹/乾/亁/幹

gān, gàn

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

gān (adjective) dry; clean

gān (verb) to concern; to interfere

gàn (verb) to do; to manage; to work

gàn (noun) trunk; main part

Etymology

Pictograph of a type of hunting or military tool.

About

The character 干 is a simplified form that merges three distinct traditional characters: 乾 (dry), 幹 (do or stem), and the original 干 (shield). In its earliest form, 干 was a pictograph of a forked weapon or defensive shield used in hunting and warfare. The traditional 乾 combines 龺 and 乞 to convey lack of moisture or, in classical usage, the concept of heaven. The traditional 幹 features a tree trunk element, signifying a main body, stem, or the act of working. Today, the single character 干 carries these entirely separate meanings depending on pronunciation and context, ranging from dryness to the act of doing something to a shield.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个房间很干净。

Zhège fángjiān hěn gānjìng.

This room is very clean.

爸爸在院子里干活。

Bàba zài yuànzi lǐ gànhuó.

Dad is working in the yard.

冬天的空气很干燥。

Dōngtiān de kōngqì hěn gānzào.

The air in winter is very dry.

不要干扰别人学习。

Bùyào gānrǎo biérén xuéxí.

Do not disturb others while they are studying.

他是一名基层干部。

Tā shì yī míng jīcéng gànbù.

He is a grassroots cadre.

他干脆地拒绝了邀请。

Tā gāncuì de jùjué le yāoqǐng.

He straightforwardly refused the invitation.

让我们为友谊干杯。

Ràng wǒmen wèi yǒuyì gānbēi.

Let us toast to friendship.

这条铁路是南北干线。

Zhè tiáo tiělù shì nánběi gànxiàn.

This railway is a north-south main line.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 干

干