Chinese Character: 秆
1. Character Basics
Radical: ⺮ (bamboo) and 干 (dry)
Stroke Count: 8
Structure: Left-right structure, with the bamboo radical on the left and 干 on the right
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gǎn
Tone: Third tone (falling-rising)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Stem or stalk of grain or other plants
Main Definitions:
- The stalk or stem of crops like rice, wheat, etc.
- Plant stems in general
- The cylindrical part that supports plant leaves, flowers, or fruits
4. Common Words
- 麦秆 (mài gǎn): Wheat stalk
Example: Farmers use wheat stalks as animal feed. 农民用麦秆作为动物饲料。 - 稻秆 (dào gǎn): Rice straw
Example: Rice straw can be used to make paper. 稻秆可以用来造纸。 - 玉米秆 (yù mǐ gǎn): Corn stalk
Example: The corn stalks grow very tall in summer. 玉米秆在夏天长得很高。 - 高粱秆 (gāo liang gǎn): Sorghum stalk
Example: Sorghum stalks are used for making brooms. 高粱秆用来做扫帚。 - 秆子 (gǎn zi): Stalk (general term)
Example: Don't step on the stalks in the field. 不要踩田里的秆子。
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Noun
Usage Patterns:
- Used as a component in compound nouns referring to plant stems
- Often preceded by the name of the plant (e.g., 稻秆, 麦秆)
- Can be used with measure words like "根" (gēn) for individual stalks
Example of Measure Word Use: 一根稻秆 (yī gēn dào gǎn) - one rice stalk
6. Cultural Background
In traditional Chinese agriculture, crop stalks have been used for various purposes beyond just being part of the plant:
- As fuel for cooking and heating
- For making household items like baskets, hats, and mats
- As animal feed or bedding
- As a building material for rural houses
- In some regions, burning stalks after harvest was a common practice, though it's now discouraged due to environmental concerns
The character's structure with the bamboo radical reflects the importance of plant materials in traditional Chinese life.
7. Example Sentence
Sentence 1: 农民正在田里收割稻秆。
(Nóng mín zhèng zài tián lǐ shōu gē dào gǎn.)
The farmers are harvesting rice straw in the field.
Sentence 2: 这些麦秆可以用来做工艺品。
(Zhè xiē mài gǎn kě yǐ yòng lái zuò gōng yì pǐn.)
These wheat stalks can be used to make handicrafts.
Sentence 3: 玉米秆很高，我们需要梯子才能摘到顶部的玉米。
(Yù mǐ gǎn hěn gāo, wǒ men xū yào tī zi cái néng zhāi dào dǐng bù de yù mǐ.)
The corn stalks are very tall; we need a ladder to reach the corn at the top.
8. Memory Tips
- Component Breakdown: The character consists of 竹 (bamboo) and 干 (dry). Think of "dry bamboo stalks."
- Visual Association: Imagine a tall, straight bamboo stalk standing upright in a field.
- Pronunciation Trick: The right part 干 (gān) has a similar sound to 秆 (gǎn), with a different tone.
- Word Association: Learn related words together like 稻秆 (dào gǎn), 麦秆 (mài gǎn), etc., to reinforce the meaning.