Learn a Chinese Character - 感 | Feel; Sensation; Emotion

1. Character Basics

Radical: 心 (xīn, heart/mind)

Stroke Count: 13

Structure: Left-right structure, with 咸 (xián, salty) on the left and 心 (xīn, heart/mind) on the right

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gǎn

Tone: Third tone (ˇ)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: To feel; sensation; emotion

Detailed Meanings:

To feel; to sense
Emotion; feeling
To be moved; to be touched
To be grateful
To think; to consider

4. Common Words

感觉 (gǎnjué) - Sense; feeling

我有一种奇怪的感觉。 (Wǒ yǒu yī zhǒng qíguài de gǎnjué.) - I have a strange feeling.
感情 (gǎnqíng) - Emotion; feeling

他们之间有很深的感情。 (Tāmen zhījiān yǒu hěn shēn de gǎnqíng.) - They have deep feelings for each other.
感动 (gǎndòng) - To be moved; to be touched

这个故事让我很感动。 (Zhège gùshì ràng wǒ hěn gǎndòng.) - This story deeply moved me.
感谢 (gǎnxiè) - To thank; gratitude

我要感谢所有帮助过我的人。 (Wǒ yào gǎnxiè suǒyǒu bāngzhù guo wǒ de rén.) - I want to thank everyone who has helped me.
感受 (gǎnshòu) - To feel; perception

请你谈谈你的感受。 (Qǐng nǐ tán tan nǐ de gǎnshòu.) - Please share your feelings.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a verb or noun

Usage Patterns:

As a verb: Often followed by objects representing feelings or sensations

感+觉: 感到快乐 (gǎndào kuàilè) - feel happy
As a noun: Refers to emotions or feelings

情感 (qínggǎn) - emotion; affection
Common collocations: 感动 (gǎndòng) - moved; 感觉 (gǎnjué) - feeling; 感谢 (gǎnxiè) - thank

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the concept of "感" (gǎn) holds significant importance in social interactions and personal relationships.

Key Cultural Aspects:

Emotional Connection: Chinese culture values the ability to sense and respond to others' emotions, which is reflected in the widespread use of words containing "感" in daily communication.
Gratitude Culture: Expressing gratitude (感谢 gǎnxiè) is considered a virtue, and the concept of "报恩" (bào'ēn) - repaying kindness - is deeply rooted in Chinese traditional values.
Literary Tradition: Classical Chinese poetry and literature often use "感" to describe subtle emotional states and philosophical reflections on life.
Idioms and Proverbs: Many Chinese idioms incorporate "感", such as "感人肺腑" (gǎnrén fèifǔ) - deeply moving, and "感慨万千" (gǎnkǎi wànqiān) - filled with emotion.

7. Example Sentence

Example 1:

中文: 她感动得流下了眼泪。

Pinyin: Tā gǎndòng de liúxià le yǎnlèi.

English: She was so moved that she shed tears.

Example 2:

中文: 我能感受到你的关心。

Pinyin: Wǒ néng gǎnshòu dào nǐ de guānxīn.

English: I can feel your concern.

Example 3:

中文: 感谢你的热情帮助。

Pinyin: Gǎnxiè nǐ de rèqíng bāngzhù.

English: Thank you for your warm help.

8. Memory Tips

1. Component Breakdown: The character 感 (gǎn) consists of 咸 (xián, salty) on the left and 心 (xīn, heart/mind) on the right. Think of it as "the heart that feels salty" - perhaps representing the complex mix of emotions we experience.

2. Visual Association: Imagine the 心 (heart) part as a container that collects and processes all your feelings and sensations.

3. Word Family: Learn related words together to reinforce memory:

感觉 (gǎnjué) - feeling
感情 (gǎnqíng) - emotion
感动 (gǎndòng) - moved
感谢 (gǎnxiè) - thank

4. Memory Phrase: "心中有感，人间有情" (Xīn zhōng yǒu gǎn, rénjiān yǒu qíng) - "When there are feelings in the heart, there is love in the world." Use this phrase to remember both the character and its meaning.