Learn a Chinese Character - 灌

1. Character Basics

Radical: 氵/shuǐ (water), 雚/guàn (reed)

Stroke Count: 20

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Guàn (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: To irrigate; to water; to pour; to fill; to inject; to instill; to pour into; to fill up; to inject into; to instill into; to irrigate land; to water plants; to pour liquid; to fill container; to inject medicine; to instill knowledge

Extended Meaning: To flush; to rinse; to gush; to spurt; to flow in; to flood in; to rush in; to swarm in; to flush with water; to rinse with water; to gush out; to spurt out; to flow into; to flood into; to rush into; to swarm into

Additional Meaning: To drink excessively; to guzzle; to chug; to binge drink; to drink too much; to guzzle down; to chug down; to binge drink alcohol; to drink alcohol excessively; to drink to excess

4. Common Words

• 灌溉 (guàn gài) - Irrigation; to irrigate
  Example: 农民们在田地里灌溉庄稼。 (Nóngmínmen zài tiándì lǐ guàngài zhuāngjia.) - Farmers irrigate crops in the fields.
• 灌输 (guàn shū) - To instill; to inculcate; to imbue
  Example: 老师向学生灌输正确的价值观。 (Lǎoshī xiàng xuéshēng guànshū zhèngquè de jiàzhíguān.) - Teachers instill correct values in students.
• 灌水 (guàn shuǐ) - To water; to pour water; (slang) to spam (online)
  Example: 请帮我给花浇水。 (Qǐng bāng wǒ gěi huā guànshuǐ.) - Please help me water the flowers.
• 灌装 (guàn zhuāng) - To fill (bottles, cans, etc.); to bottle; to can
  Example: 这个工厂专门灌装饮料。 (Zhège gōngchǎng zhuānmén guànzhuāng yǐnliào.) - This factory specializes in bottling beverages.
• 灌篮 (guàn lán) - Dunk (basketball); to dunk
  Example: 他的灌篮技术非常棒！ (Tā de guànlán jìshù fēicháng bàng!) - His dunking skill is excellent!

5. Grammar & Usage

Verb Usage:

• 灌 + Object: 灌溉农田 (guàngài nóngtián) - Irrigate farmland
• 灌 + 入/进 + Object: 把水灌入瓶子 (bǎ shuǐ guànrù píngzi) - Pour water into the bottle
• 灌 + 得/不 + Result: 灌得太满 (guàn de tài mǎn) - Filled too full

Noun Usage:

• 灌 + 名词: 灌装机 (guànzhuāng jī) - Filling machine

Common Structures:

• 灌输思想 (guànshū sīxiǎng) - Instill ideas
• 灌迷魂汤 (guàn míhúntāng) - Brainwash; flatter
• 如雷灌耳 (rú léi guàn ěr) - Deafening; impressive reputation

6. Cultural Background

"灌"在中国文化中有着深厚的历史意义，尤其与农业社会密切相关。灌溉系统的发展对中国古代农业文明的繁荣起到了至关重要的作用，如都江堰等水利工程体现了中国古代人民的智慧。此外，"灌输"一词在教育和文化传承中也占有重要地位，反映了中国传统文化中知识和价值观传递的方式。在现代，"灌篮"等新词的出现也展示了语言的活力和变化。

"Guan" has profound historical significance in Chinese culture, especially closely related to agricultural society. The development of irrigation systems played a crucial role in the prosperity of ancient Chinese agricultural civilization, with water conservancy projects like Dujiangyan embodying the wisdom of ancient Chinese people. Additionally, the term "guanshu" (to instill) also occupies an important position in education and cultural inheritance, reflecting the way knowledge and values are passed on in traditional Chinese culture. In modern times, the emergence of new words like "guanlan" (dunk) also demonstrates the vitality and changes of the language.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Component Decomposition: "灌" consists of "氵" (water) and "雚" (reed), which can be associated with the scene of watering reeds with water.
2. Phonetic Association: The pronunciation of "灌" is similar to "贯" (guàn), both having the meaning of "penetrate, pass through". Remembering "贯" helps remember "灌"。
3. Visual Imagery: Imagine a person watering plants or pouring water into a container.
4. Associate Similar Characters: Characters related to "灌" include "罐" (guàn, jar) and "鹳" (guàn, stork). Remembering the connections between these characters.
5. Practice Common Words: Practicing common words like "灌溉" (irrigate), "灌输" (instill), and "灌水" (water) can help strengthen memory.