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" originated from an early pictographic depiction of a shield or weapon, leading to its initial associations with defense or aggression. Its structure stabilized into a form featuring two horizontal strokes bisected by a vertical stroke. Over time, phonetic borrowing extended its use to represent words like "dry" and "to do", which align with the traditional characters "乾" and "幹" respectively. The original martial sense faded, and the character gained meanings such as involvement or intervention, while also serving as a component in numerous compound terms, reflecting its semantic expansion through historical usage.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个房间很净。

Zhège fángjiān hěn gānjìng.

This room is very clean.

爸爸在院子里活。

Bàba zài yuànzi lǐ gànhuó.

Dad is working in the yard.

冬天的空气很燥。

Dōngtiān de kōngqì hěn gānzào.

The air in winter is very dry.

不要扰别人学习。

Bùyào gānrǎo biérén xuéxí.

Do not disturb others while they are studying.

他是一名基层部。

Tā shì yī míng jīcéng gànbù.

He is a grassroots cadre.

脆地拒绝了邀请。

Tā gāncuì de jùjué le yāoqǐng.

He straightforwardly refused the invitation.

让我们为友谊杯。

Ràng wǒmen wèi yǒuyì gānbēi.

Let us toast to friendship.

这条铁路是南北线。

Zhè tiáo tiělù shì nánběi gànxiàn.

This railway is a north-south main line.