Definitions
(adjective)
dry; clean
(verb)
to concern; to interfere
(verb)
to do; to manage; to work
(noun)
trunk; main part
Etymology
Pictograph of a type of hunting or military tool.
About
The character 干 originated as a pictographic depiction of a shield or a defensive weapon, with its early meanings revolving around protection and martial conflict, as seen in ancient texts where it often appeared in terms like 干戈, referring to weapons of war. Etymologically, this tangible object served as a foundation for semantic expansion, leading to verbal connotations such as 'to offend,' 'to seek,' or 'to intervene,' which became entrenched in classical compounds like 干涉 (to interfere) and 干犯 (to violate). Structurally, the character has retained a simple, unbranched form across centuries, consisting of minimal strokes that have remained largely unchanged, while in traditional orthography it is distinct from the more complex forms 乾, denoting dryness, and 幹, indicating a trunk or the act of doing. Through associative borrowing and gradual semantic shift, 干 absorbed functions from these related characters, acquiring additional layers of meaning that range from indicating dryness or a main part to expressing general action, thereby transforming into a versatile graph with both concrete and abstract applications across various contexts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个房间很干净。
爸爸在院子里干活。
冬天的空气很干燥。
不要干扰别人学习。
他是一名基层干部。
他干脆地拒绝了邀请。
让我们为友谊干杯。
这条铁路是南北干线。