Chinese Character: 岗
1. Character Basics
Radical: 山 (shān, mountain/hill)
Stroke Count: 7
Structure: Above-below structure, with 山 (mountain) on top and 冈 (ridge) below
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gǎng
Tone: Third tone (ǎ)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Hillock; post; position; sentry post
Detailed Meanings:
- Small hill; hillock; mound
- Post; position; duty station
- Sentry post; guard station
- Level or rank in an organization
4. Common Words
- 岗位 (gǎngwèi) - Post; position; job
每个人都应该坚守自己的岗位。 (Měi gè rén dōu yīnggāi jiānshǒu zìjǐ de gǎngwèi.) - Everyone should stick to their post.
- 上岗 (shànggǎng) - Go to work; take up a post
新员工明天开始上岗。 (Xīn yuángōng míngtiān kāishǐ shànggǎng.) - The new employees will start working tomorrow.
- 下岗 (xiàgǎng) - Leave one's post; be laid off
由于公司重组，很多工人下岗了。 (Yóuyú gōngsī chóngzǔ, hěnduō gōngrén xiàgǎng le.) - Many workers were laid off due to company restructuring.
- 山岗 (shāngǎng) - Hillock; small hill
村庄坐落在一个小山岗上。 (Cūnzhuāng zuòluò zài yīgè xiǎo shāngǎng shàng.) - The village is located on a small hill.
- 岗亭 (gǎngtíng) - Guard booth; sentry box
门口有一个岗亭，有保安在值班。 (Ménkǒu yǒu yīgè gǎngtíng, yǒu bǎo'ān zài zhíbān.) - There is a guard booth at the door with a security guard on duty.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun
Usage Patterns:
- Referring to physical locations: 山岗 (hillock), 岗亭 (guard booth)
我们爬上了那个小山岗。 (Wǒmen páshàng le nàgè xiǎo shāngǎng.) - We climbed up that small hill.
- Referring to positions or posts: 岗位 (position), 一岗双责 (one post with two responsibilities)
每个岗位都有其职责。 (Měi gè gǎngwèi dōu yǒu qí zhízé.) - Each position has its responsibilities.
- Common collocations with verbs: 上岗 (go to work), 下岗 (leave one's post), 换岗 (relieve a guard), 站岗 (stand guard)
6. Cultural Background
The character "岗" (gǎng) holds cultural significance in Chinese society, particularly in relation to work, duty, and social structure.
Key Cultural Aspects:
- Work Ethics: In Chinese culture, the concept of "岗位" (gǎngwèi, post/position) is closely tied to the values of responsibility, dedication, and loyalty to one's work.
- Social Organization: The character is used in various terms related to social hierarchy and organizational structure, reflecting traditional Chinese views on order and structure.
- Historical Context: The term "岗哨" (gǎngshào, sentry post) has historical significance, related to ancient military defenses and border controls.
- Modern Usage: In contemporary China, terms like "下岗再就业" (xiàgǎng zài jiùyè, re-employment after being laid off) reflect social and economic changes in recent decades.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
中文: 他在公司担任重要岗位。
Pinyin: Tā zài gōngsī dānrèn zhòngyào gǎngwèi.
English: He holds an important position in the company.
Example 2:
中文: 战士们在山岗上站岗放哨。
Pinyin: Zhànshìmen zài shāngǎng shàng zhàn gǎng fàng shào.
English: The soldiers are standing guard on the hill.
Example 3:
中文: 她每天按时上岗，认真工作。
Pinyin: Tā měitiān ànshí shànggǎng, rènzhēn gōngzuò.
English: She goes to work on time every day and works conscientiously.
8. Memory Tips
1. Component Breakdown: The character 岗 (gǎng) consists of 山 (shān, mountain) on top and 冈 (gāng, ridge) below. Think of it as "a mountain ridge" or "a small hill with a ridge."
2. Visual Association: Imagine a small hill with a guard post on top. This connects the character's meaning of both "hillock" and "post/position."
3. Word Family: Learn related words together to reinforce memory:
- 岗位 (gǎngwèi) - position
- 上岗 (shànggǎng) - go to work
- 下岗 (xiàgǎng) - leave one's post
- 山岗 (shāngǎng) - hillock
4. Memory Phrase: "山上有岗，岗位有人" (Shān shàng yǒu gǎng, gǎngwèi yǒu rén) - "There is a hilltop, and there is a person at the post." This phrase helps remember both the character and its core meanings.