缸

gāng

工 + 缶

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

gāng (noun) jar; vat

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 缶 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound.

Semantic: 缶 Phonetic: 工

About

缸 is a phonosemantic compound with 缶 on the left, an element meaning earthenware vessel, and 工 on the right providing the sound. Originally, it denoted a large, wide-mouthed, thick-walled ceramic container used for storing water, grain, wine, or fermented foods. In modern usage, the character has broadened to refer to any hollow, cylindrical container irrespective of material, most notably engine cylinders and hydraulic tubes, reflecting a shift from a specific pottery storage vessel to a geometric shape in engineering contexts.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

鱼缸里有一条金鱼。

Yúgāng lǐ yǒu yī tiáo jīnyú.

There is a goldfish in the fish tank.

厨房里有一个大水缸。

Chúfáng lǐ yǒu yī gè dà shuǐgāng.

There is a large water vat in the kitchen.

奶奶用这口缸来腌咸菜。

Nǎinai yòng zhè kǒu gāng lái yān xiáncài.

Grandma uses this jar to pickle vegetables.

工人们正在搬运那些陶缸。

Gōngrénmen zhèngzài bānyùn nàxiē táogāng.

The workers are moving those pottery urns.

他把硬币全都扔进了存钱缸。

Tā bǎ yìngbì quán dōu rēng jìnle cúnqiángāng.

He threw all the coins into the piggy bank.

这个染缸的历史超过一百年了。

Zhège rǎngāng de lìshǐ chāoguò yībǎi nián le.

This dye vat has a history of over one hundred years.

发动机的缸体需要彻底清洗。

Fādòngjī de gāngtǐ xūyào chèdǐ qīngxǐ.

The engine cylinder block needs a thorough cleaning.

陶瓷缸比玻璃缸更易碎吗？

Táocí gāng bǐ bōli gāng gèng yìsuì ma?

Are ceramic jars more fragile than glass jars?

Related Characters

Component: 工

Component: 缶

缸