Learn a Chinese Character - 杆 | Pole; Rod; Stick

1. Character Basics

Radical: 木 (mù - wood radical)

Stroke Count: 7

Stroke Order:

Structure: This is a形声字 (xíngshēngzì - phonetic-semantic character) composed of 木 (wood) as the semantic component and 干 (gān) as the phonetic component. The wooden radical indicates that it is related to wooden objects, specifically long, thin ones.

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gān (first tone) and Gǎn (third tone)

Tone: Gān is first tone (high level), Gǎn is third tone (falling-rising)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: "pole" or "rod" (a long, thin, cylindrical object)

Main Meanings:

• As gān: pole; rod; bar; shaft (usually referring to long, cylindrical objects)
• As gǎn: pole; stick; lever; handle (often referring to shorter poles or tools with handles)

4. Common Words

• 旗杆 (qí gān): flagpole

  国旗在旗杆上高高飘扬。(Guó qí zài qí gān shàng gāo gāo piāo yáng.) - The national flag is fluttering high on the flagpole.

• 电线杆 (diàn xiàn gān): utility pole; telephone pole

  路边有很多电线杆。(Lù biān yǒu hěn duō diàn xiàn gān.) - There are many utility poles along the road.

• 杆子 (gān zi): pole; rod; stick

  他用杆子把风筝挑起来。(Tā yòng gān zi bǎ fēng zhēng tiāo qǐ lái.) - He used a pole to lift the kite.

• 笔杆 (bǐ gǎn): penholder; pen shaft

  这支钢笔的笔杆很精致。(Zhè zhī gāng bǐ de bǐ gǎn hěn jīng zhì.) - The penholder of this fountain pen is very exquisite.

• 枪杆 (qiāng gǎn): rifle barrel; gunstock

  士兵们紧握枪杆。(Shì bīng men jǐn wò qiāng gǎn.) - The soldiers tightly held their rifle barrels.

5. Grammar & Usage

As gān (noun):

• Used to refer to long, cylindrical objects: 旗杆 (qí gān) - flagpole
• Often used with classifiers: 一根杆 (yī gēn gān) - a pole

As gǎn (noun):

• Used to refer to shorter poles or tool handles: 笔杆 (bǐ gǎn) - penholder
• Also used with classifiers: 一杆笔 (yī gǎn bǐ) - a pen

In compound words:

• Many compound words use 杆 to indicate objects with a long, thin shape
• Examples: 杆秤 (gǎn chèng) - steelyard (a type of balance scale); 桅杆 (wéi gān) - mast

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character 杆 has practical and symbolic meanings. Historically, poles and rods have been essential tools in agriculture, construction, and daily life, reflecting the importance of practical tools in Chinese society.

The character also appears in cultural contexts such as traditional Chinese martial arts, where 杆 (gǎn) often refers to long poles used as weapons. Additionally, 旗杆 (qí gān - flagpole) has symbolic significance, representing national identity and pride.

In traditional Chinese measurement, 杆 (gǎn) was also used as a unit of length, although this usage is less common today. This demonstrates how the character is woven into various aspects of Chinese culture and history.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Radial Association: Remember that the left part is 木 (mù - wood), which tells us that 杆 is related to wooden objects, specifically long, thin ones.

2. Phonetic Component: The right part is 干 (gān), which gives a hint about the pronunciation.

3. Stroke Order: Remember the seven-stroke order: start with the wooden radical (横, 竖, 撇, 捺) followed by the 干 component (横, 横, 竖). Practice writing it several times to memorize.

4. Common Objects: Associate the character with common objects like flagpoles (旗杆), utility poles (电线杆), and penholders (笔杆) to remember its meaning and usage.