Chinese Character: 甘
1. Character Basics
Radical: 甘 (itself, meaning "sweet" or "pleased")
Stroke Count: 5
Stroke Order:
Structure: This character evolved from an ancient pictograph representing the tongue with a dot in the middle, symbolizing something sweet or pleasant on the tongue. It is a simple, independent character with five strokes.
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gān (first tone)
Tone: First tone (high level)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: "sweet" or "pleased; satisfied"
Main Meanings:
- Sweet; tasty
- Pleasant; enjoyable
- Satisfied; contented
- Willing; glad
- Moderate; not excessive
4. Common Words
- 甘甜 (gān tián): sweet; delicious
这种水果的味道很甘甜。(Zhè zhǒng shuǐ guǒ de wèi dào hěn gān tián.) - This fruit tastes very sweet.
- 甘心 (gān xīn): willing; reconciled to; resigned
他不甘心失败。(Tā bù gān xīn shī bài.) - He is not reconciled to failure.
- 甘愿 (gān yuàn): willing; ready; glad
她甘愿为家庭付出一切。(Tā gān yuàn wèi jiā tíng fù chū yī qiè.) - She is willing to give everything for her family.
- 甘泉 (gān quán): sweet spring; sweet water
在沙漠中发现了一眼甘泉。(Zài shā mò zhōng fā xiàn le yī yǎn gān quán.) - A sweet spring was found in the desert.
- 甘苦 (gān kǔ): sweet and bitter; joys and sorrows
他们一起经历了生活的甘苦。(Tā men yī qǐ jīng lì le shēng huó de gān kǔ.) - They experienced the joys and sorrows of life together.
5. Grammar & Usage
As an adjective:
- Used to describe taste: 甘甜的泉水 (gān tián de quán shuǐ) - sweet spring water
- Used to describe feelings: 甘美的回忆 (gān měi de huí yì) - sweet memories
As a verb (in compound words):
- 甘心 (gān xīn): to be reconciled to; to be willing
- 甘愿 (gān yuàn): to be willing; to be ready
In idioms and proverbs:
- 甘拜下风 (gān bài xià fēng): to be willing to admit defeat
- 同甘共苦 (tóng gān gòng kǔ): to share weal and woe
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the character 甘 has rich symbolic meanings. The concept of "sweetness" (甘甜) extends beyond taste to represent happiness, satisfaction, and positive experiences in life.
The character appears in many idioms that reflect cultural values. For example, 吃苦耐劳 (chī kǔ nài láo) means "to endure hardships and work hard," and 甘之如饴 (gān zhī rú yí) describes finding something sweet even though it's difficult, showing the value of perseverance and positive attitude.
In traditional Chinese medicine, 甘 often refers to the sweet taste in herbs, which is believed to have nourishing and harmonizing properties. This demonstrates how the character is integrated into various aspects of Chinese culture.
7. Example Sentence
English: This apple is very sweet.
Chinese: 这个苹果很甜。
Pinyin: Zhè ge píng guǒ hěn tián.
English: She is willing to help others.
Chinese: 她甘愿帮助别人。
Pinyin: Tā gān yuàn bāng zhù bié rén.
English: After experiencing hardships together, they share a deep bond.
Chinese: 他们同甘共苦后，感情很深。
Pinyin: Tā men tóng gān gòng kǔ hòu, gǎn qíng hěn shēn.
8. Memory Tips
1. Shape Association: The character 甘 looks like the character for "taste" (舌 - shé) with a horizontal line above it, representing something sweet on the tongue.
2. Sound-Meaning Connection: The pronunciation "gān" sounds similar to the English word "gain," and gaining something sweet or satisfying can help with memory.
3. Stroke Order: Remember the five-stroke order: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, horizontal. Practice writing it several times to memorize.
4. Common Phrases: Associate the character with common phrases like 甘甜 (gān tián - sweet) and 甘心 (gān xīn - willing) to remember its meaning and usage.