Chinese Character: 缸
English Translation: Vat; Jar; Pot
1. Character Basics
Radical: 缶 (fǒu, earthenware jar)
Stroke Count: 9
Structure: Left-right structure. The left part 缶 means earthenware container, and the right part 工 means work or craft, indicating a crafted container.
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gāng
Tone: First tone (flat tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: A large earthenware jar or vat used for storing liquids or other items.
Detailed Meanings:
- A large cylindrical container made of earthenware, porcelain, or metal
- Specific types of containers used for particular purposes (e.g., water vat, fish tank)
- Measuring unit for certain items in ancient times
- Metaphorically referring to something with a large capacity
4. Common Words
- 水缸 (shuǐgāng) - Water vat/jar
Example: 我们需要一个大水缸来储存雨水。(Wǒmen xūyào yīgè dà shuǐgāng lái chǔcún yǔshuǐ.)
Translation: We need a large water vat to store rainwater.
- 鱼缸 (yúgāng) - Fish tank/aquarium
Example: 他的鱼缸里养了很多彩色的鱼。(Tā de yúgāng lǐ yǎngle hěnduō cǎisè de yú.)
Translation: There are many colorful fish in his fish tank.
- 染缸 (rǎngāng) - Dye vat
Example: 传统的染缸是用木材制成的。(Chuántǒng de rǎngāng shì yòng mùcái zhìchéng de.)
Translation: Traditional dye vats are made of wood.
- 酒缸 (jiǔgāng) - Wine vat/jar
Example: 这个酒缸里的酒已经酿了十年了。(Zhège jiǔgāng lǐ de jiǔ yǐjīng niàngle shí nián le.)
Translation: The wine in this vat has been brewed for ten years.
- 米缸 (mǐgāng) - Rice jar
Example: 米缸里还有足够的米，可以吃一个月。(Mǐgāng lǐ hái yǒu zúgòu de mǐ, kěyǐ chī yīgè yuè.)
Translation: There is enough rice in the jar to last for a month.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun
Usage Pattern:
- Often used as a measure word or in compound words to refer to containers
- Usually preceded by a modifier indicating the type of container or its contents
- Can be used metaphorically to describe something with a large capacity
Common Collocations:
- 大水缸 (dà shuǐgāng) - Large water vat
- 一口缸 (yī kǒu gāng) - A vat (measure word "口" is used with 缸)
- 缸口 (gāngkǒu) - Mouth of the vat
- 缸底 (gāngdǐ) - Bottom of the vat
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the character 缸 (gāng) has significant cultural implications:
- Historical Significance: Vats and jars have been essential household items in China for thousands of years, used for storing water, food, and other necessities.
- Symbol of Prosperity: In traditional Chinese homes, having large vats filled with water or rice was seen as a symbol of wealth and preparedness.
- Cultural Idioms: There are many Chinese idioms involving 缸, such as "打破沙锅问到底" (dǎpò shāguō wèn dàodǐ), which means to get to the bottom of a matter (literally "break the earthen pot to ask to the bottom").
- Ceramic Art: The making of vats and jars has been an important part of Chinese ceramic art, with famous production centers like Jingdezhen known for their high-quality porcelain vats.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
水缸里的水很清澈。(Shuǐgāng lǐ de shuǐ hěn qīngchè.)
Translation: The water in the vat is very clear.
Example 2:
他不小心打碎了鱼缸。(Tā bù xiǎoxīn dǎsuìle yúgāng.)
Translation: He accidentally broke the fish tank.
Example 3:
奶奶用米缸存放大米。(Nǎinai yòng mǐgāng cúnfàng dàmǐ.)
Translation: Grandmother uses a rice jar to store rice.
8. Memory Tips
How to Remember 缸 (gāng):
- Component Breakdown: 缸 consists of 缶 (fǒu, earthenware jar) and 工 (gōng, work). Think of it as a "crafted earthenware container" - a vat or jar made by skilled workers.
- Visual Association: Imagine a large cylindrical container (like a water vat) with the left part 缶 representing the earthenware material and the right part 工 representing the craftsmanship.
- Word Family: Learn related words together: 水缸 (water vat), 鱼缸 (fish tank), 酒缸 (wine vat) to reinforce the meaning of 缸 as a type of container.
- Memory Phrase: "工匠制作的大缶就是缸" (Gōngjiàng zhìzuò de dà fǒu jiùshì gāng) meaning "A large earthenware container made by a craftsman is a 缸."